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This test consists of 5 short answer questions and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How far off is Pham from target?

2. How big is the fleet that is pursuing OOB?

3. Who agrees with Pham's version of the shootout?

4. What do those aboard OOB hope about the Zone storm?

5. What does Steel worry that Amdijefri will see?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

In chapter 10, when "Scarbutt," the individual that killed Dad, offers water, Johanna without planning attacks, slamming his head against the hull. She realizes that hurting one, she has hurt them all. Discuss the following:

1. Create an analysis of exactly how a pack is organized and functions.

2. Where do the inhabitants of the Tine's world originally come from and what were they in their native world? Is it likely they could have evolved to the point where they are in A Fire under the Deep? Why or why not. Remember to consider how long they have been on this world. This could be perhaps as long as 5 billion years. Do you think they could have evolved even further along than where they are evolutionally?

3. Give a description of how you think humans might have evolved in 5 billion years. Explain your description and why you come up with it.

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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