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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. What do George and Lydia notice about the screams?

2. Who are they going to have come look at Africa (the nursery) the following morning?

3. How many children are there in the family?

4. Why do the parents think the children have been acting funny?

5. Who says: “Nothing likes to die—even a room”?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is George hesitant to lock up the nursery? What does he fear?

2. What does Lydia think is wrong with her life?

3. Where are George and Lydia Hadley?

4. How does Dr. McClean say the nursery feels?

5. How is dinner served to George and Lydia?

6. How do Wendy and Peter tell their parents that they will be late for dinner?

7. Describe the sensory experience of the nursery. What senses does the nursery appeal to? Use a description from the text as an example.

8. Explain how the nursery reflects the children’s psyches.

9. What does George hear just as he enters the nursery (for the second time in the story)?

10. Explain the following quote: “And again George Hadley was filled with admiration for the mechanical genius who had conceived this room. A miracle of efficiency selling for an absurdly low price. Every home should have one.”

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Stories can be plot or character driven, or even both with a balance of the two.

What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven or action driven? Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why? Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character are developed to the same degree? Why or why not? Explain your response.

Essay Topic 2

Thoroughly analyze how the setting informs the plot in The Veldt. Trace and analyze one major theme of The Veldt. How is the theme represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action? Use examples from The Veldt to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

Bradbury’s work is commentary on his prediction of society projected forward from 1950.

Based on the central conflict of man versus machine and loss of human connection, describe the values of this society. Why must they live in a Happylife home? Why do George and Lydia believe that nothing is good enough for their children? What is suggested by the fact that they take sedatives to go to sleep at night?

(see the answer keys)

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