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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 Paulo tell Kornhoer?

2. How does Taddeo react to the stories of monks who have died or gone blind preserving the Memorabilia?

3. What happens to the King of Loredo?

4. How will the Church transport the Memorabilia?

5. How does Zerchi react to Mercy Camp Number 18 being set up down the road?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why have nuclear weapons been banned?

2. Describe the legend of Leibowitz's death.

3. Describe Mad Bear's political plans.

4. What is Gault afraid is Hannegan's intention for the abbey?

5. Who is eligible for euthanasia?

6. Why does Paulo feel like a shoemaker in a village of shoemakers?

7. Why is the APLAC a necessary device?

8. What is the likely reason Taddeo does not arrive on time at the monastery?

9. Why doesn't Taddeo want to alienate Hannegan?

10. What is the literary style of the story of the Flame Deluge read to Taddeo at the beginning of Chapter 18?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the structure of the novel. Describe the relationship of all three sections and how they represent different stages in the development of human culture. Why did the writer choose this unconventional structure, which covers three time periods and three different sets of characters? Why is there no continuous main character in the novel (except perhaps the Old Jew), and how does that affect your experience of the novel?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the mutations in the novel.

Part 1) How do the mutated humans in the novel stretch the definition of what it means to be human? How do they create quandaries for the Church, in defining humanity?

Part 2) How do the normal humans in the novel treat the mutants, and what does this say about humanity?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the Simplification.

Part 1) What were the people's motives for the Simplification? Are the goals of the Simplification desirable? What was lost and gained because of the Simplification?

Part 2) Were any of the actions of the Simplification justified?

Part 3) Are the goals of the Simplification realistic or possible?

(see the answer keys)

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