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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. Who does Hannay bump into?

2. Hannay remembers the cryptic phrase "Thirty-Nine Steps" from Scudder's notebook, and also notations about "high tide" arriving when?

3. Finally arriving at a quaint fisherman's pond and feeling somewhat at ease, Hannay idly whistles what tune?

4. Who does Hannay believe Alloa to be?

5. Once in the dovecot, what does Hannay do?

Short Essay Questions

1. What takes place during the time in which Hannay decides to spy on the men in Trafalgar Lodge and when he rings the doorbell?

2. How does Hannay come to know that the final destination of the Germans is along the east coast and has thirty-nine steps, perhaps leading to the beach?

3. How does Hannay end up being chased by the police? How does this chase end?

4. What happens when Hannay wakes up in the dovecot?

5. How are Hannay's suspicions roused at Bullivant's home?

6. How does Scudder's black book become useful again?

7. What makes Hannay suspicious of a yacht called the Ariadne?

8. How do the men learn about a possible destination?

9. How do Bullivant and other military men come to a plan?

10. Now locked in a room and guarded, what does Hannay decide to do?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The plot of the anarchists is revealed to be very dangerous.

Part 1) Why is it not seen to be very danger at first? What is the purpose of this?

Part 2) How is the true threat of the Germans revealed throughout this story? How does this affect Hannay? How is he tested by this?

Part 3) How does this parallel events going on at the time this book was written? What message does this book send to readers at this time?

Essay Topic 2

Richard Hannay is the protagonist.

Part 1) How is he the protagonist? What is known about this character? How does the author make him accessible to the reader?

Part 2) How can the reader relate to Hannay? How is he like any other ordinary man?

Part 4) How does Hannay evolve throughout the story? How does the reader's understanding and perception of him also change?

Essay Topic 3

Many chapters end in cliffhangers.

Part 1) Describe these cliffhangers. What is the purpose of these cliffhangers?

Part 2) how do these cliffhangers support this as an adventure story? How do they keep the plot progressing?

Part 3) How do these cliffhangers affect you as the reader? Why?

(see the answer keys)

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