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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. In Chapter 1, when did the shipping department at the library begin their day?

2. What book did Orlean burn when she decided she needed to burn a book?

3. How much did Bradbury spend on typewriter rental for his story The Fireman?

4. In Poland during World War II, what percent of the books in the country were destroyed?

5. At the time the book was written, about how many firefighter arsonists were arrested every year?

Short Essay Questions

1. What was the first recorded instance of book burning, and what were the circumstances of that book burning?

2. When did the fire department first get information about Harry Peak from the tip line?

3. What work did Carlos Nunez do for the Literacy Center at the Central Library?

4. Who was Bertram Goodhue?

5. How did the fire department begin investigating after the fire was extinguished?

6. What were the first two libraries like in Los Angeles?

7. What had to be done with the books that were wet?

8. What did Orlean discover about the library's reputation for being a quiet place?

9. How many times were there fires in the Central Library after the fire in April 1986?

10. How did Orlean describe the Central Library when she first saw it?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What a reader knows about events and people is determined by the point of view in a book. What is the point of view in the book? How does the point of view influence what readers know about events and people?

Essay Topic 2

Much of the library fire arson investigation was based on assumptions. When was the first scientifically-based report released on how to examine fires? Why were arson cases mostly based on assumptions before that time? How did assumption lead to wrongful convictions and how might assumption have led to Harry’s arrest?

Essay Topic 3

Mary Jones was a city librarian who was asked to resign, even after a favorable review of her work. Why was Mary Jones asked to resign? What did the request for her to resign reveal about gender roles of the time?

(see the answer keys)

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