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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. Why are the theater employees disturbed during the showing of a particular film?

2. The President's council advises him to set the Defcon status to what level when United States borders are threatened?

3. What does Doyle Halland emerge from to find and join SIster's group?

4. Where does Sister Creep find the glass ring?

5. What does a man do in Sister Creep's dream?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Swan's group react to seeing the lit K-mart?

2. What does Roland do for Colonel Macklin?

3. What happens at PawPaw's store when the nuclear attacks begin?

4. Why does Sister "Creep" get into a fight in Chapter 2?

5. What special powers does the glass ring exhibit as Sister and her group begin to use it?

6. What does Doyle do to the members of Sister's group and why?

7. How do Roland, Macklin, and Sheila acquire a place to stay in the Salt Lake settlement?

8. What is unusual about the fight that Josh engages in in Chapter 2?

9. What disagreement does Colonel Macklin have with the builders of Earth House?

10. What happens to the leadership of the American government shortly after the nuclear attacks begin?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the post-blast setting, trust is extended rarely, but its effects are sometimes profoundly important. Due to the lawlessness and brutality of the world around them, few survivors can trust one another, but they must learn to do so in order to survive. Groups like Macklin's army are built around fear and discipline, but groups like Sister's and Swan's, or even the survivor settlements like Homewood and Mary's Rest, are all founded on trust.

1) Discuss the difficulties that people have in trusting each other in this setting. Why is lack of trust a reasonable reaction?

2) Explain some examples of how trust develops between individuals and within groups. Describe some of the benefits that the survivors gain by trusting each other.

3) Describe at least one example of when trust failed to develop, and all parties involved suffered as a result.

4) Explain how trust drives the story forward at various points.

5) Explain why trust is still slow to develop and difficult to maintain, despite its benefits.

Essay Topic 2

After the blasts, the western part of the United States becomes a war zone, with many small armies competing for scarce resources, the Army of Excellence being only one of many. These groups raid and pillage the countryside, causing untold amounts of suffering, death, and pain.

1) Discuss the reasons that the armies form after the blasts, and discuss why they are prominent in the West.

2) Explain how these armies operate, supply themselves, and interact.

3) Describe the typical modes of warfare employed by the armies.

4) Summarize the impact that the armies have on the regions where they operate.

Essay Topic 3

Near the end of the novel, Friend admits that his goal is to destroy the human spirit.

1) Explain what is meant by the human spirit in the context of the novel.

2) Explain why Friend wants to destroy the human spirit and the world that would exist if he succeeded.

3) Discuss ways that the human spirit is degraded or strengthened throughout the novel, and explain how these ends are achieved.

4) Describe Swan's impact on the strength of the human spirit in other individuals and communities.

(see the answer keys)

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