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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 are Simon and Edith Thibault?

2. Unfortunately for the accompanist, what is happening to him?

3. What do they discover about the accompanist?

4. How does Roxane Cross feel about being the only woman forced to stay?

5. Why are the generals happier with their smaller group?

Short Essay Questions

1. When the terrorists learn that the President is not at the birthday party, what happens?

2. What is happening to the health of the accompanist?

3. What does the accompanist's death prove to the reader?

4. When Roxane wishes to sing, who helps her and why is it a surprise?

5. When the terrorists choose not to shoot a dead body, what are they proving about themselves?

6. When two terrorists are revealed to be females what changes?

7. What does Messner discover about the terrorists that have taken over Ruben's house?

8. Why is this time in the house so important for Carmen and how does she take advantage of her situation?

9. Why has Gen become incredibly busy during his stay at Ruben's house?

10. What aspects of the situation have led Simon to re-evaluate his life?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

As Messner visits the house for the last time, he warns Gen that the government has figured out a solution to the problem of the terrorists.

Why does Gen blatantly ignore the warning?

How could Gen have warned everyone and possibly saved Carmen's life?

Do you think everyone in the house is responsible for outcome of the siege?

Essay Topic 2

How do the characters in the novel put aside their differences to become friends?

What causes them to become so connected and in love with each other as the book progresses?

Essay Topic 3

How does the author establish Ruben's home as a prison and as an alternate reality?

What qualities about the home are likened to a prison? What about the home allows them to see it as a safe place.

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This section contains 742 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample