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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 does Ben decide to do after he watches the interview on television?

2. What happens to the adult crews on Mars before this book begins?

3. What happens to the body of a dead Martian?

4. How does Michael appear?

5. What does most of the Martian art involve?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Ben ask Jill to do at the hospital and how does she do it?

2. What does Ben plan to do about Michael?

3. Why does Ben want to meet Jill secretly?

4. What does Gillian decide to do at the hospital one day and how does she do it?

5. What does Duke brag about in relation to Michael and what does Jubal tell him?

6. What happens when the police come to Jubal's?

7. How does Jubal feel about Michael's abilities and what does he do?

8. What does Mrs. Douglas do after her talk with her husband?

9. What does Michael say about his ability to make things disappear?

10. What does it mean when Jill does as Michael insists?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Tromp insists that Michael not only needs time to adjust physically but mentally and emotionally too.

1. Write a brief description on how you think you might feel if you were raised by non-humans and were suddenly pushed into human culture.

2. What kinds of emotional and mental adjusting do you think Michael needs? Use examples from the book to support your opinion.

3. Do you think it is realistic to believe Michael could adapt to human society given his age when he first encounters it? Explain your answer and use examples from the book to support it.

Essay Topic 2

The argument between Duke and Jubal gives Heinlein a platform from which to explore the attitudes of the American culture.

1. How do you think other cultures view American culture? Support your view with examples.

2. Have you ever been exposed to another culture? If so, what did you think about it? Use examples from your experience to illustrate your thoughts. If you've never been exposed to another culture would you like to go to another country? Why or why not?

3. Pretend you have met aliens from another world and they are following you around for a day. Explain your day to them as to someone who has never been on this world.

Essay Topic 3

Michael's experience of seeing the Atlantic Ocean almost overwhelms him. The reason that water is used in ceremony on Mars is that the liquid is very scarce. Trying to fathom the immensity of an ocean is difficult for earthlings who have never experienced one, and a million times more difficult for Michael, who has not seen much more than a cup of water in his life.

1. What do you think it would be like to see something as rare as water on Mars? Use an example to support your statement.

2. When an item is in extreme abundance, it is not treated the same as rare items, e.g. gold versus water. Do you think the abundance of water on this planet contributes to humans polluting it? Why or why not?

3. What do you think would happen if the Martians discovered how much water is on Earth? Use your imagination.

(see the answer keys)

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