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This test consists of 5 short answer questions and 1 (of 3) essay topics.
Short Answer Questions
1. What does Skinner ask Pham to do?
2. When are the 152 ships pursuing Pham due?
3. What does Johanna find upsetting about the Tines' behavior in the wild?
4. What does Steel project to the masses?
5. What does Vendacious reveal to Johanna about Jefri?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
In A Fire upon the Deep, it is hard to know who is the "good" guy versus the "bad" guy. Discuss one of the following:
1. Name two groups, factions, or individuals who are untrustworthy and analyze their actions and impact upon the plot throughout A Fire Upon the Deep. How far into the book does it take to separate the untrustworthy from those who can be trusted?
2. Name two groups/factions/individuals who are trustworthy and analyze their actions and impact upon the plot throughout A Fire Upon the Deep.
3. Are there some characters who can be trustworthy at times and not trustworthy at other times? Who? Why do they vacillate?
4. Ravna seems to be much more trusting than Pham. Do you think Ravna is too trusting? Is Pham too suspicious? Who does Pham mistrust and why? Give specific examples.
Essay Topic 2
Vernor Vinge is a not only a novelist, but a professor of mathematics. The book A Fire upon the Deep won the Hugo award for Science Fiction. It is useful to know about him not just because he authored A Fire upon the Deep, but also because his ideas of the future might need to be considered.
1. Research Vinge and write a brief biography of him.
2. What do you find to be most impressive about the man?
3. What do you think is Vinge's greatest accomplishment?
4. Vinge writes and essay titled, "The Coming Technological Singularity." Much of those ideas can be found in A Fire upon the Deep. Research and relate his essay to his book.
Essay Topic 3
Steel admires the workmanship of the unburned coffins where the children are in suspended animation, but he recoils at the thought that the pups in suspended animation could mature and destroy his world--and that other ships might follow. Discuss the following:
1. Does Steel have legitimate concerns about the possible problems a ship from space could bring?
2. Is attacking the occupants of the ship the wisest course? What other actions might Steel have taken instead of attack? Would one of them have been more advisable?
3. How do you think Steel might have fared in the long run had he made friends with the Olnsdots rather than killing them?
4. Why does Steel leave Jefri alive? Is there any compassion at all to his decision?
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This section contains 508 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) |
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