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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. Gulliver wonders how this king had come to think of _________________ if he did not have any enemies.

2. Who argues that a senator should have to vote directly contrary to what he says in his speech, because then that will be what is best for the people.

3. Gulliver is dismayed to see that even if they were alive again, many of these people would be what?

4. Whose hair does Gulliver use to design seats and purses?

5. This island has magicians and sorcerers on it and the main power on the island is that of a family of magicians who use what as servants?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Gulliver's encounter with the pirates.

2. What condition does Gulliver find most of the people in, when he goes down to the lower island, and why is he told that they are that way? What implications does that have?

3. Why is the king's cousin, who befriends Gulliver, considered an outcast and do you think that it is fair? Why or why not?

4. Explain how Gulliver tries to prove to the king that the people of England are smart.

5. How does the king of the floating island rule the people on the island below?

6. What are the people of Laputa like?

7. What identifies the immortals in the culture, in Part 3, Chapter 10, and what sorts of things must these immortals endure?

8. In Part 3, Chapter 5, how is Gulliver further introduced to the ideas and beliefs of the Laputians?

9. What do you think Swift's ideas about modern science are, based on Part 3, Chapter 4?

10. What does Gulliver find after sailing from island to island for five days, in Part 3, Chapter 1 and what happens as a result?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Swift uses the Laputans to poke fun at modern science and say that experiments are time consuming and costly and, often, fail completely. Do you think that scientific studies are worth the money and time invested, over all? If so, list examples of modern scientific advances that you think have been beneficial and why. If not, list scientific flops that you think have wasted or are wasting money and why.

Essay Topic 2

Gulliver is given many conditions that he must agree to in order to roam freely in the Liliputian land.

Part 1: Describe in detail all of the conditions set by the Liliputians for Gulliver's release.

Part 2: Explain the motivations behind each of the conditions, in detail. Why do the Liliputians want Gulliver to adhere to each condition?

Essay Topic 3

In writing about the Laputans, Swift takes an interesting stand on science, believing that, while it can be good, it can also consume people, if their theories aren't sound. Using examples from the book, as well as real life, explain, in detail, about whether or not you think science is a good thing or a bad thing and why.

(see the answer keys)

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