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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 Supaari intend to do when he wanders off?

2. Where does Sofia think Isaac would do well?

3. Who is likely to survive chlidhood?

4. What does Emilio say about Carlo loading up a shipment of brandy to sell?

5. What enables the Runa to track the Jana'ata and cut them off from their food supplies?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Rakhat look like when the men first step off the Bruno and what happens to Carlo immediately?

2. What kind of solution does Danny come up with for the Jana'ata problem?

3. What angers Puska about Hlavin and what does she know about Ha'anala's fate?

4. Describe the fight between Supaari and Hlavin.

5. What does Sean want to know from Emilio as they talk of God on the Bruno and what does Sean say Emilio must do about his misfortune?

6. Why do the priests wake Emilio and what are the results of what they know?

7. What does Hlavin do by his twelfth year of rule?

8. Why is Ha'anala angry at Isaac concerning his mother?

9. What does Sofia assume about Issac and what does she say to Emilio? How does she feel about her actions and the Jana'ata?

10. How does Ha'anala feel about the lander coming in with food, what does she know about her future and what does she say she wants done with the children?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

CHILDREN OF GOD, like many, and perhaps a majority, of novels ends on a happy note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why? not?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of CHILDREN OF GOD and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why CHILDREN OF GOD is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Most protagonists are a mixture of admirable traits and character flaws, and Emilio is no exception.

1. Trace and analyze situations when Emilio demonstrates his anger and hopelessness. Give specific examples to illustrate your analysis.

2. Trace and analyze Emilio 's character flaws, and explain how they create a more complex and believable character. How do you think Emilio 's character flaws make some situations more difficult for him?

3. After analyzing Emilio 's strengths and weaknesses, decide if Russel is right in selecting Emilio to be the "hero" of the story. Is there anyone else who might have done a better job?

Essay Topic 3

Oftentimes, a book is more of a character-driven plot rather than action driven, and oftentimes the other way. Some books seem to balance the two. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not.

5. What type of plot do you think A Fire Upon the Deep is? Explain your response.

(see the answer keys)

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