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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 is Wili's assessment of his intellectual progress?

2. What branch of the armed services is Allison Parker a part of?

3. Why does Wili believe he will be killed if he returns to the factions?

4. Who does Paul think will be able to help Wili?

5. How does Wili say he learned about Mike's cooperation with the Authority?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is Wili treated at Paul's house?

2. How does Wili perform at the chess tournament, and what disadvantage does he face?

3. What does Red Arrow Industries produce?

4. Describe Paul's physical and personality characteristics.

5. What discovery causes the Authority to become more suspicious about the Tinkers?

6. What is the relationship between the Tinkers and the Authority?

7. What is Wili's plan when he arrives at Paul's home?

8. How does Paul help Allison escape from the Authority?

9. Explain the factors that contributed to Wili's decision to stay with Paul.

10. According to the bioscientists, what is the nature of and cure for Wili's disease?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Jill is a computer program created by Paul for both practical and sentimental reasons. At the height of the final battle between the Tinkers and the Authority, she allows Wili to escape while sentencing herself to almost certain capture and destruction.

1) Discuss the reasons Paul had for creating Jill. Describe her sentimental importance to Paul, and the functional role she fulfills.

2) Explain some of the behaviors Jill exhibits which suggest she has become more than a simple program. Additionally, discuss the reactions other characters have to these behaviors.

3) After Jill sends Wili away to complete the embobbling program herself, the other characters discuss whether or not she was fully sentient and whether her actions constituted a sacrifice. Cite evidence from the book and speculate as to whether Jill was independently intelligent, whether she had real emotions, and whether her destruction constitutes a real sacrifice.

Essay Topic 2

Kaladze is an important leader, and as a powerful independent force, both the Tinkers and the Authority attempt to maneuver him to their advantage.

1) Describe Kaladze as a character and a leader. Describe the nature of his settlement and the forces that he controls.

2) Discuss the interest Kaladze has in the conflict between the Tinkers and the Authority and how he initially sides himself. Explain how Paul and others are able to influence him to support the Tinkers' side.

3) Explain Della's attempts to manipulate Kaladze on behalf of the Authority. How does she attempt to control his actions, and what does she hope to cause him to do? Explain how successful Della's plan is.

Essay Topic 3

The events that led to the unusual state of raffias are only discussed tangentially and only become clear in the final chapters of the story. The rise of the Authority rapidly and dramatically altered the political landscape of the world.

1) Explain how the bobbles were discovered and first created. What involvement did Paul and the progenitors of the Authority have in these discoveries?

2) Describe how the Authority came to power and how it was able to subdue major military powers such as the United States?

3) Using evidence from the book, speculate as to how the setting could have evolved differently had some minor factors been altered slightly.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 942 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample