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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 what state does the story open?

2. Why does Ylla's husband say that it is impossible for individuals to live on Earth?

3. How do the settlers of Mars come?

4. How does Driscoll oxygenate Mars?

5. What can Muhe and Gomez not do?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe where Mr. and Mrs. K live.

2. How do the first settlers feel about their time on Mars and what happens to change this feeling?

3. Why is Ylla K unhappy in her marriage?

4. What is different about the first wave of men from America and the second wave of men from America?

5. Why does Black find that many of his crew members are abandoning the rocket ship?

6. What happens to the climate as the rocket launches?

7. What theory does Black have about finding the deceased relatives on Mars?

8. What disease did the Earthlings bring to Mars which killed the Martians, and how did the disease affect the Martians?

9. What are some of the reasons that the Earthlings had for coming to and settling on Mars?

10. Why was Driscoll spurred to take action about the atmosphere on Mars and what action did he take?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How is the theme of disbelief developed throughout the novel? What key events throughout the novel support this theme? Why was there so much disbelief?

Essay Topic 2

Atomic war is portrayed in this novel. Describe how it is portrayed, then make a realization as to your own personal belief as to the presence of atomic and nuclear weapons in modern society.

Essay Topic 3

Write a compare-and-contrast essay between the Martian world before the Earthlings arrived to Earth during the same time period. Use at least five comparisons and five contrasts.

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This section contains 630 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample