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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. Carson often woke in the night screaming out what word?

2. What item was located directly behind the altar?

3. What magazine does this character often reference?

4. It became a popular tradition to do what to the monument?

5. What did Carson fall into?

Short Essay Questions

1. Carson referred to these locations in the story but what were they really?

2. What is the Sacred Seal? How does Carson define its purpose?

3. What did German scholar Heinrich von Hooligan discover? What was the alleged purpose of the items(s)?

4. The item(s) were eventually classified as being what?

5. What covered the majority of North America?

6. How did Carson spend most of his time?

7. How is Howard Carson's life described before the discovery of the Motel of the Mysteries?

8. What was Carson's reaction when he realized what he had found?

9. Name two pieces of jewelry worn by Harriet. What were their real uses?

10. What is the Sacred Parchment? What is its use?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Throughout the book, Howard Carson maintains a fascination with camels. In the beginning of the book, Carson researches hump productivity. What prompted Carson to study hump productivity in the first place? Does Carson ever figure out the use for the camel's hump? How could it become more "productive?" What would it produce? Why do you think Carson was so fascinated with camels? What is the mass that makes up a camel's hump? What were Carson's final assessments and/or achievements regarding the camel? What piece of history was made due to Carson's research?

Essay Topic 2

Examine the relationship between Howard Carson and Harriet Burton. In the beginning of the book Harriet is referred to as a colleague. As the book goes on it becomes clear that Harriet has a sense of deep devotion toward Carson. Write a detailed synopsis of the relationship between the two excavators. What were the pros and cons? Did either person make it obvious that there was something more than a purely professional relationship? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

Howard Carson is painted as a ne'er do well in the beginning of the book. How did Carson make a living? What was the man's level of ambition? Why did Carson decide it was time to change his life? How did he propose to make changes? Were those goals accomplished? Did the effort to change cause Carson to land at the Motel of the Mysteries? How did Carson handle the discovery of the motel? Did Carson see the discovery as his destiny? Explain.

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