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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 advice does Anthor tell Dr. Darell to do if a man ever wants to marry Arcadia?

2. How does the Mule react when he learns he has been outwitted?

3. What does Arcadia friend build for her?

4. How do the Rossem elders describe Tazenda?

5. Why do Dr. Darell's colleagues worry about Anthor's involvement in their group?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why did the Seldon Plan fail as described by the author?

2. How does Channis describe the planet that is likely to be home to the Second Foundation?

3. In 1-3, what reason does the Mule give Channis about his assurance that the mythical Second Foundation really exists?

4. In 7-9, what reasons does Arcadia give that she has knowledge that her father is expecting a visitor?

5. Why does Pritchard pull a gun on Channis? What are his reasons for accusing Channis of this crime?

6. What is the Mule's motivations for finding the Second Foundation? How close has he come to this discovery?

7. How do the Rossem elders react to the arrival of Pritchard and Channis?

8. What does Anthor ask Dr. Darell as they descend downstairs in 7-9? What is Dr. Darell's reaction?

9. What is the history of Han Pritcher and how does this character remember his past?

10. What is Arcadia's reaction when she sees the man at her window?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In today's society technology plays a vital role in daily activities. This use of technology is emulated in the novel and is a major influence on plot developments. Please respond to the following with supporting examples:

1) What technology is featured in the novel that has yet to be invented? How does this help to captivate the reader?

2) What types of technology are used during the book to change the course of events in the plot?

3) Why does the author place such importance on technology in the novel?

Essay Topic 2

With family members, political rulers and even one's own mind being controlled by powerful forces, paranoia plays a powerful role in the novel. Respond to the following with supporting details from "Second Foundation."

1) In what ways does the character of Pritcher exhibit extreme paranoia?

2) What are the reasons that the characters in the book are paranoid? Does the author validate these reasons by the end of the novel?

3) How does the author use a reader's real life concern about mind control to underscore the paranoia in the book?

Essay Topic 3

Powerful forces in the fictional society of "Second Foundation" are able to influence and even control the minds of humans. Respond to the following with supporting evidence from the novel:

1) In the novel, what level of difficulty is the ability to control a person's mind? How easily influenced are people by the Mule or the Second Foundation?

2) How does the author portray that certainty a person can have about someone's mind being control? How about the certainty of a person's own mind being controlled?

3) What is the difference between the controlling powers of the Mule versus the powers of the Second Foundation?

(see the answer keys)

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