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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 the strange sound that Rod hears underground?

2. What is Rod offered in exchange for his loyalty by the host?

3. What kind of award is mentioned that will be given out as a result of the accident to Rod in Chapter 10?

4. What does King order in Chapter 35?

5. Who feels the earth shake in Chapter 1?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Manfred ask Rod to do in terms of drilling after he reads the report on the drilling site?

2. How does Manfred deceive Rod while he spies on him?

3. How does Rod meet Teresa?

4. How does Allen guide the foreman?

5. How is Dan pleasantly surprised by his evening out with Rod?

6. How does Dan rescue Terry?

7. Describe Rod and Joseph's interaction in Chapter 21.

8. Describe Johnny.

9. How does Manfred get into an accident?

10. What happens when the drill cuts into a fissure?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The author describes murder and theft in the latter half of the book. Who dies? What is stolen? Who is affected? How does this change the course of the narrative? What action occurs subsequently as a direct result? Describe.

Essay Topic 2

Greed is a theme Smith introduces in "Gold Mine". What does this phrase mean? How does it relate to mining and wealth? What does Smith ultimately say about the desire for wealth through the characters of Rod, Manfred, Hirschfield, and Kowalski and what is the importance of this discovery and the characters' role? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

Choose a character that Rod grows to like and become familiar with. How does their relationship evolve?

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