View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How many cats were sitting by the fire where Will was sleeping on the island?

2. Where does the man on the island go when he leaves the island?

3. How many boys are allowed on the deck at one time?

4. What happens to the boys' raft?

5. How does Will feel about Fritz's response to him?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did Will and his friends learn about White Mountain?

2. What kind of swimmer is Will and how does Beanpole help him?

3. How do the boys implement Beanpole's idea?

4. How does Will treat Fritz and how does Fritz respond? How does Will feel about Fritz's response?

5. Why are Will, Henry, and Beanpole working so hard and at what are they working?

6. What was Will forced to do in his journey to White Mountain?

7. What does Beanpole think might have happened because the barge was gone?

8. What do the boys figure out by lunch time?

9. Why are the three friends chosen to compete?

10. What does Beanpole tell Will about what Ulf said about Will not being at the barge?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Whenever reading a science fiction or fantasy novel, one must become familiar with new terminology that explains concepts or technology that is not a part of the "real" world. In the case of THE CITY OF GOLD AND LEAD, much of the setting is familiar to the reader, though there are new ideas and terms to learn. Discuss the following:

1. Find five terms that are a part of THE CITY OF GOLD AND LEAD world that occur in the "real" world but are used differently in Will's world. Define the words as used in in THE CITY OF GOLD AND LEAD world and compare those five words as to how they are currently used in the American English language.

2. There are ways of learning about a new world or time when reading a science fiction or fantasy novel. Discuss the ways you were able to understand the world of THE CITY OF GOLD AND LEAD. Did you have to look up any words? What does it mean to learn a word through its context? Do you have to do that in THE CITY OF GOLD AND LEAD? What word(s)?

4. Were there any words you never really understood from THE CITY OF GOLD AND LEAD? Which ones?

Essay Topic 2

Will discovers that the atmosphere is difficult for humans and the air completely incompatible with human life. This causes humans to suffer and age quickly, making them unable to survive inside the city for very long, which might suggest why no one has ever come out of the Tripod cities. It also does not bode well for Will and Fritz who have just become slaves to alien Masters.

1. Slavery has been in existence since the earliest records of humans. Discuss the disadvantages of slavery to a society and to a culture as a whole.

2. Discuss the advantages of slavery to those in power and (possibly will need research) why slavery became a part of human civilizations.

3. Discuss the symbolism between the air the Tripods breath being incompatible with human life and the fact that the Tripods' presence on earth have created a world of slaves who are under absolute control. Illustrate your statements with details from the text.

Essay Topic 3

Oftentimes, a book is more of a character-driven plot rather than action driven, and oftentimes the other way. Some books seem to balance the two. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not.

5. What type of plot do you think The City of Gold and Lead is? Explain your response.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,065 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample