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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. How does Dan keep gas in his car?

2. What is Randy worried about when he sits down to a surprise dinner?

3. What does Randy tell Ben about his father?

4. Who does Peyton ask about fishing?

5. What does Randy tell Bubba about the cost of getting rid of Porky's body?

Short Essay Questions

1. In what shape do they find Dan and what happened to him?

2. What does Rita say about the highwaymen and what does she do?

3. What happens to Ben the night Dan is robbed?

4. How does Dan keep his car going and the Admiral's radio working?

5. What happens to the frozen food at Randy's and what do they decide to do about it?

6. What does Randy see when the highwaymen ambush him and what does he do?

7. What is the problem the community is having with salt and fish?

8. What kind of illness in town worries Dan and who seems to have it?

9. What does Randy plan to do about water for the house?

10. What happens to the Admiral's shortwave and what can be done about it?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

A civilization takes many things for granted but realizes their value only in their absence.

1. What do you think is meant by this statement from the perspective of the book?

2. What do you think people in present day America take for granted?

3. Describe a time that you or someone you knew lost something or someone that/who was taken for granted.

Essay Topic 2

"Alas, Babylon" is from Revelation and signifies impending doom. Mark and Randy agree the previous Christmas that "Alas, Babylon" signifies a potential nuclear confrontation with the Soviet Union.

1. What would be your thoughts if you had been in Randy's position when he received the telegram?

2. Do you think Randy should tell his friends about the telegram? Why or why not?

3. Do you think it is fair for Mark to try and save his family because he is in the position to know about a possible war ahead of time? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Ben is upset that he shoots what he sees as a wolf but is a pet German Shepherd. Randy consoles Ben that dogs can turn into wolves at times like these.

1. What kind of circumstances do you think might have force the German shepherd into a wild animal?

2. What do you think would keep men from turning from civilized men to murderers and thieves at a time like in this book?

3. Describe another situation besides the one in the book that could make decent people turn bad.

(see the answer keys)

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