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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. What type of pet is kept by the boy?

2. What is the name of the batman that lives in Europe?

3. The fog horn sometimes summons what type of creature?

4. In what year does the couple live?

5. What is the name of the boy in "The Invisible Boy?"

Short Essay Questions

1. The birth of a child is usually a joyous thing. What goes wrong with the Leiber baby in "The Small Assassin?"

2. What happens to Uncle Einar as he returns to from the Elliot family reunion? How does the event change Einar's life?

3. "The Big Black and White Game" tells a story about a segregated baseball game. Describe the players on each team.

4. In "The Playground" Charles Underhill objects when his sister Carol wants to take Charles' three-year-old son Jim to a playground. Why does Charles object? What is the outcome of the story?

5. "The Veldt" tells a story about the Hadley family. What unusual thing has the family done to their house? What part of the house proves to be the most significant?

6. Explain the situation that plagues Timothy Elliot in "Homecoming." Why does Timothy feel like an outcast?

7. In the story "Invisible Boy" how does the woman attempt to get Charlie to stay with her instead of going home? How does the woman do it?

8. What year is home to William and Susan Travis? What year do they choose to travel to in an attempt to escape war? Where do they go?

9. Describe the main plot of "The Coffin."

10. What are the marital issues for Smith and Braling in "Marionettes, Inc.?" What is the solution chosen by the two men?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

One theme in the book is the old adage "Be careful what you wish for." This can be seen in "Silent Towns" and "Marionettes, Inc." in addition to others. Discuss how this choice of theme is a popular one and how Bradbury uses it to relate to his audience. Also give examples of things you wished for, received, and regretted.

Essay Topic 2

Some characters that stand out in relation to unsatisfactory relationships are Mrs. Braling in "Marionettes, Inc.;" Genevieve in "The Silent Towns;" The Wilders in "The October Game;" and George and Katherine in "Punishment Without Crime." Choose two of the stories and compare and contrast the stories, the relationships and the characters involved.

Essay Topic 3

There are several stories in which machines and other inanimate objects come to life. Choose at least five instances in the book that fit this profile. Compare and contrast each. Is each of the inanimate objects harmful? Are any of the inanimate objects metaphors? Explain. What type of personification does Bradbury use if any? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

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