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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. When the man in grey visits the boy he is teaching in his rooms, how long does he spend lecturing the boy?

2. What does Widget want to ride on the carousel in "Chaperoned" until Celia persuades him to ride on a different animal?

3. Where is Lainie when Tara comes to visit Mr. Barris in "The Ticking of the Clock"?

4. What color are the tents of the circus?

5. By "Gentlemen's Wager," how long has Celia been taking lessons?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the grey man get a child to train?

2. How does Marco meet Isobel?

3. In "The Magician's Umbrella," how does Celia learn who her opponent is?

4. How does a man in a tuxedo perform in "The Hanged Man"?

5. How does the circus get assembled in "Atmosphere"?

6. What does the announcement in the paper say about Hector Bowen's death and funeral services?

7. What does Bailey do with the twins in "Ailuromancy"?

8. In "Target Practice," why is Chandresh throwing a knife at a dartboard?

9. What are dinners like at Chandresh's home?

10. What does Prospero have Celia do for Alexander?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Bailey becomes the caretaker of the circus. Why is Bailey chosen to become the caretaker and why does he accept the position?

Essay Topic 2

In "Atmosphere," Tsukiko persuades Celia to attend one of Chandresh's dinner parties. Why did Tsukiko invite Celia and how did the invitation advance the plot of the novel?

Essay Topic 3

The clockmaker who is instructed to create the circus clock is told to create a dream. In what ways is the clock both a real timepiece and a dream and how does the clock represent what the circus will become?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 900 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample