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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. When interviewed, Captain Smith was questioned about what?

2. What could be exposed on Europa but not anywhere else in the Solar System?

3. How many days did it take for the cabin to begin to smell bad on the shuttle?

4. What killed the monster?

5. What was the advantage the Earth's explorers had over the Galaxy crew?

Short Essay Questions

1. What time-honored tradition was upheld daily on the Universe at 1800 every evening?

2. What was the encouraging words from the Universe?

3. What does Floyd and Van der Berg discuss about Floyd's illusion?

4. Why was Captain Laplace not concerned with morale of the crew upon landing?

5. How much time did refueling on Haley's comet save the Universe?

6. Despite Captain Smith's misgivings, who requests that they go along with Jolson's plan?

7. What was the order that Captain Laplace received from Head Office?

8. Who becomes the three guardians, and what is the monolith's role?

9. George and Jerry discovered what about Shaka?

10. With what creatures in the sea did the Galaxy come in contact?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Part 1) Speculate on why the author chooses not to reveal the intelligent creatures on Europa.

Part 2) Is it possible that these creatures communicate with the monolith and its trinity? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

Dr. Floyd and his grandson, Chris, are seemingly two of the more important characters in the book.

Part 1) How would the story been different if there had been no Dr. Floyd?

Part 2) How would the story have been different if Dr. Floyd had been with Chris aboard the Galaxy rather than on the Universe?

Essay Topic 3

Describe what is known about the monolith.

Part 1) Is there any indication that the monolith had Dr. Floyd's consciousness before it spoke with Chris?

Part 2) Why is Dr. Floyd's consciousness in the monolith crucial to the story?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 800 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample