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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 Powers fear would be the result of leaked information about the alien?

2. What does Reba note to Tom that has changed in her appearance?

3. What does Conrad use as a name for hotel reservations at the Jefferson Davis?

4. To where does Tom lead Reba and Roger to show them the spacecraft?

5. What nickname does the aide think of when he thinks of Powers?

Short Essay Questions

1. Is Kreton well-organized? Why?

2. Why does Kreton have a difficult time explaining how long it took him to reach Earth?

3. Explain Powers' complaint at the beginning of the play in terms of what he has been given as responsibility, and who he blames for the change.

4. Is the use of Kreton as a governmental weapon right?

5. Kreton states he envies humans for being imperfect. Why do you think he says that?

6. Explain where Kreton lives.

7. Why does Kreton view his race as superior?

8. Powers has an infatuation with laundry. Describe his conversation with Kreton about the topic.

9. What is Roger afraid Kreton truly represents? What is Kreton's reply to this?

10. Based on Kreton's comments to Powers about the impending war, does Kreton really plan to win for the United States quickly?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the play, Conrad plays the role of a pacifist throughout most of the scenes. However, when faced with a man having sexual thoughts about his girlfriend, he becomes violent. What does this say about Conrad's character? About pacifism? Is he truly a pacifist? His reasoning is that everyone, at some point, loses control, but that this doesn't make them naturally violent. Do you agree? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

The government of the United States, and the people in the Spelding household, are shown to be extremely suspicious of anything out of the ordinary. Kreton, later in the novel, notes that humans are suspicious by nature. Do you think this is true? Why or why not? When something occurs out of the ordinary, or when we, as humans, meet new people, do we assume they are friendly, or unfriendly? Why is this? What was Vidal trying to say about human nature?

Essay Topic 3

Kreton argues that human beings are particularly adept at war, and that they specialize in it.

Part 1. Do you agree with Kreton? Why or why not? What makes us, as humans, good at war?

Part 2. Kreton also notes major scientific discoveries are found during war. Why is this true? What causes discoveries to be found during war? Does this argue for the use of war as a method of technological advancement? Why or why not? Would these discoveries have been made outside of war? Why?

Part 3. History is full of records of war. Why do humans engage in wars? What are some of the causes? Does this support or refute Kreton's position that humans specialize in war? Why?

(see the answer keys)

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