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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Where are Rainsford and his partner headed?

2. As Rainsford begins to walk along the cliffside, what does he notice in the jungle?

3. On page 33, the narrator mentions that Zaroff has "surmounted" an obstacle. What has Zaroff done?

4. What is the first thing that Rainsford does once he is on top of the cliffs?

5. What is the name of the island on which the story takes place?

Short Essay Questions

1. Once he falls overboard, what does Rainsford do and what does it show about his character?

2. Describe the first encounter between Rainsford and Ivan.

3. What is the disagreement between Rainsford and Whitney?

4. Describe General Zaroff's house.

5. How does the discussion of the Cape buffalo introduce a possible meaning of the story's title?

6. Describe the physical setting of Ship-Trap Island.

7. How does Rainsford end up falling overboard?

8. What layers of irony are later revealed about Rainsford's suggestion that cannibals might live on Ship-Trap Island?

9. What warning signs are present in Zaroff's banter about Cossacks?

10. What does Rainsford find in the jungle as he is walking toward Zaroff's house, and what does he conclude from it?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay in which you analyze the imagery used in "The Most Dangerous Game." Identify patterns in Connell's use of imagery; create a thesis that connects these patterns to the story's overall meaning. Be sure to use textual evidence to support your claims.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay that analyzes how General Zaroff came to be the man he is when Rainsford meets him; explain multiple aspects of his personality, using textual evidence to justify speculations about how he came to be the way he is.

Essay Topic 3

General Zaroff's ideas about civilization are shocking to Rainsford, but since he explicitly refers to World War I as a reason for believing what he believes, the reader should understand that Connell created this character to comment on a specific moment in history. Write an essay in which you analyze the relationship between Zaroff's ideas about civilization and the story's historical context. Support your claims with both historical and textual evidence; be sure to cite your sources in MLA format.

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