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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 does Holston recall Allison using to clean with during her cleaning in Chapter 4?

2. As Holston performs the cleaning in Chapter 6, it dawns on him, “His wife had been right.” In what way was she right?

3. What does Holston grab above him in order to pull himself to a standing position as Nelson dresses him in Chapter 4?

4. What kind of gas is pumped into the airlock after the warning horn in Chapter 6?

5. How are the curtains described in Chapter 6 that cover the interior of the airlock?

Short Essay Questions

1. What conclusions Holston make upon taking in the surroundings of the outer world in Chapter 6?

2. What response does Holston have when Nelson asks him at the end of Chapter 4, “You okay? Anything too tight?”

3. How is Allison’s death described in Chapter 4?

4. What surroundings does Holston find himself after exiting the silo in Chapter 6?

5. What instructions does Nelson give to Holston in Chapter 4?

6. Why does Allison tell Holston she will return to the silo in Chapter 5?

7. What “forbidden words” does Allison say in Chapter 5? How does Holston respond?

8. What is the setting in the opening of Chapter 4? What state is Holston in at the beginning of the chapter?

9. What does Holston find in the cafeteria in the beginning of Chapter 5?

10. What is the setting and time frame established in the opening of Chapter 6? What is Holston doing in the beginning of the chapter?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Examine the theme of betrayal of the established order in Wool. How is this theme manifested through the character of Allison? How do Allison and Holston differ in their views of “established order”? How does is this theme represented in the end of the novel?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the tone and mood of Wool as established in the beginning of the novel. How are the tone and mood established in the opening lines of the first chapter? Why does the author choose to juxtapose the sounds of happy children with Holston’s march toward his death? What effect does this have?

Essay Topic 3

Love and Loss in Wool

a. Discuss Holston’s relationship with his wife, Allison. How close was their relationship? What were the main conflicts within their marriage?

b. In what ways does Holston’s grief over the loss of his wife drive his actions in the story? What do you think is the singular event that sets off the subsequent events in the story?

(see the answer keys)

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