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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. When Lyra's hood is removed by her kidnappers, who addresses her?

2. How does Lyra create a distraction at the Bolvangar during a fire drill?

3. When the kidnappers take Lyra to the Bolvangar, who pays them?

4. After the battle between the two bears is over, Lyra is reunited with

5. After consulting her alethiometer while imprisoned by the bears, Lyra learns that someone is coming to rescue her. Who?

Short Essay Questions

1. At the Bolvangar, how does Lyra contact Roger without attracting attention?

2. When Lyra is with Mrs. Coulter at the Bolvangar, she realizes she is safe only as long as she pretends to know very little of what is actually going on. What does Lyra tell Coulter to throw her off track?

3. After Lyra and Roger go to Lord Asriel's residence in the North, what does Roger say to Lyra about the man?

4. When Thorold wakes up Lyra at Lord Asriel's residence in the North, he is concerned. What does he tell her?

5. Describe the battle that interrupts Lyra, Iorek, and the other bears as they chase after the tracks made by Lord Asriel's sledge.

6. What does Serafina say when Lyra asks her if she loved Farder Coram?

7. When Lyra is imprisoned by the armored bears, she reads her alethiometer with help from Pan, who transforms himself into a firefly. What information does the alethiometer reveal?

8. Summarize what Lyra overhears of the conversation about escaped daemons between Mrs. Coulter and the men in the conference room.

9. When Lyra consults her alethiometer under the insistence of John Faa to learn more about the Bolvangar, what details does she reveal?

10. What is the outcome of the battle between Iorek and Iofur?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast Lyra's feelings towards Lord Asriel and Mrs. Coulter at the start of the story, when she does not yet know they are her parents, and at the conclusion of the book, when she knows they are her parents and has seen what they are capable of. How do her feelings evolve? How do her feelings tear her apart? Despite her mixed feelings, what does Lyra become certain of?

Essay Topic 2

Various individuals and groups in the book have their own agenda.

1. Explain, in detail, how three of the groups or individuals depend on Lyra to further their goals.

2. How is Lyra able to stay on her own mission and complete her job when so many different factions want so much out of her? Support your answer with examples.

Essay Topic 3

In The Golden Compass, many gray areas exist. Lyra is often confused trying to figure out who is "good" and who is "bad." Analyze three significant characters of your choice, explaining in what ways they are good, bad, and in the nebulous gray zones. Cite specific examples to support your analysis.

(see the answer keys)

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