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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 do the wolf-like figures do?

2. What have the archeologists awakened?

3. What do the Straumli archeologists call their settlement?

4. What is built faster than anything on Straum?

5. What masks the alien ship?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Pham and Bluestalk's descent to the planet surface and their attack and why they suddenly stop attacking with their beam?

2. What does Steel do in the dungeons?

3. What the Arbitration Arts Corporation communicate in various posts about a new Power?

4. Describe Scriber Jaqueramaphan.

5. Describe Johanna's deepening connection to and understanding of the people in the Woodcarver domain.

6. Who does Pham contact and what happens?

7. How does Bluestalk demonstrate that he is not in thrall to the Blight?

8. Describe Pham.

9. Explain what the material in OOB's library says about the origins of Riders.

10. Describe Lord Steel.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the Prologue, narration writes that the scientists know some intelligence is watching their work and waiting to pounce. They know that, like earlier humans, they are playing with fire, but the potential reward is tremendous. Discuss the following:

1. Considering the billions of sentient creatures that are wiped out of existence by this intelligence, could any potential reward be worth the possibility of unleashing an evil intelligence?

2. In the early part of the 21st century, Artificial Intelligence is just now being looked at as something that is possible, though many have fantasized about the idea for decades. Do you think the rewards of developing a machine with artificial intelligence is worth the risks? Or are there risks? Compare/contrast the possible rewards with the possible risks of developing artificial intelligence.

3. Do you think artificial intelligence could actually develop into an evil egomaniac? What is the artificial intelligence's main concern when the humans are working with it in the prologue?

4. Much of what is developed in labs in the "real" world has both a positive side and negative side. Consider the side effects of some medicines that can alleviate or cure disease. How does one determine when the balance of good swings too far towards the negative aspects?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the following:

1. What do you think are the characteristics of a successful novel?

2. Analyze and discuss A Fire upon the Deep based upon the criteria you decide upon in #1 and judge if A Fire upon the Deep is a successful novel. Explain your rationale with specific examples.

3. Do you think the fact that A Fire upon the Deep falls within the science fiction genre changes the criteria upon which its success should be judged? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

Whenever reading a science fiction or fantasy novel, one must become familiar with new terminology that explains concepts or technology that is not a part of the "real" world. In the case of A Fire upon the Deep, there is a great deal of new terminology and familiar words with new meanings. Discuss the following:

1. Find five terms that are a part of the world of A Fire upon the Deep that are a part of the language of 2010 but mean something different. Define the words as used in A Fire upon the Deep and compare those five words as to how they are currently used in the American English language.

2. How does the language of A Fire upon the Deep from that of 2010? Are there words you did not know from that time? What? How do you learn their meanings? What does it mean to grasp a the meaning of a word through its context? Can you do that in A Fire upon the Deep? Give an example of several words whose definition are made clear through the context of how the word is used.

3. There are ways of learning about a new world or time when reading a science fiction or fantasy novel. Discuss the ways you were able to understand the world of A Fire upon the Deep through its vocabulary. Did you have to look up any words?

4. Were there any words you never really understood from A Fire upon the Deep? Which ones?

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