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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. To what ethnic group do Zaroff and his servant belong?

2. What explanation does Zaroff give for his servant's not speaking to Rainsford?

3. Why does Rainsford have difficulty seeing the island from the ship?

4. Where are Rainsford and his partner headed?

5. Which word does the narrator use to describe General Zaroff's home?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What clues does Connell give right away that the relationship between Ivan and Zaroff developed in the military?

3. Describe the first encounter between Rainsford and Ivan.

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

5. Describe the early warning signs about Zaroff's island that Rainsford ignores.

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

7. In what ways does Zaroff show himself to be a good host?

8. How does Rainsford end up falling overboard?

9. What is the disagreement between Rainsford and Whitney?

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

Connell frequently uses references to specific foods and wines, books, music, and so on as a method of characterizing General Zaroff. What does this tell us about General Zaroff? And why does Connell do it so often--do the references tell the reader separate things about Zaroff, or do they serve another purpose? Write an essay that analyzes the use of these details. Be sure to use textual support for your claims.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay in which you analyze how Rainsford's attitude toward game animals changes over the course of the story. Be sure to offer textual support for your claims.

Essay Topic 3

In what way is this story about more than hunting animals? Explain how this story comments on the way that human beings treat one another as much as it comments on how humans treat other animals. Be sure to offer textual support for your claims.

(see the answer keys)

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