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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 is said to cause the metal groan that Holston hears as he prepares to exit for cleaning in Chapter 6?

2. Who handles the procedural work for Allison while Holston paces outside the bars of the holding cell in Chapter 5?

3. Who is the staff employee that corrals Allison’s feet to prevent her from kicking in Chapter 5?

4. What word from Chapter 6 refers to a strong and fast-moving stream of water or liquid?

5. Holston is described in Chapter 6 as “alone in the airlock, wearing a cleaning suit, full of doubts and” what?

Short Essay Questions

1. What changes take place in the airlock as the time nears for Holston’s departure in Chapter 6?

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

3. What is Nelson’s position in the story? What does he tell Holston in the beginning of Chapter 4?

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

5. Whom does Allison believe to be responsible for keeping secrets in Chapter 5?

6. Why does Holston make the decision to keep on his helmet as he departs in Chapter 6?

7. What does Holston do after performing the cleaning duty in Chapter 6?

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe and analyze the character of Allison in the novel. How long have Allison and Holston been married, based on your estimations from the text? What is their relationship like? When did Allison die? How did she die?

Essay Topic 2

Describe the lottery that is discussed throughout the narrative. When did Holston and his wife win the lottery? What did this winning allow them to do? How long did they have to fulfill their lottery ticket?

Essay Topic 3

Describe and discuss the setting of the story. When does this story take place? What clues in the narrative indicate a time setting for the story? What is a “silo” and how is this setting described in the first chapter?

(see the answer keys)

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