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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 the narrator anticipate with relief at the end of "The Light-Years"?

2. What are the first things Qfwfq and Dean (k)yK have to bet with?

3. Where does N'ba N'ga say is a good hunting ground?

4. How does the narrator see the shape of space?

5. What does the mollusk think of the development of eyesight?

Short Essay Questions

1. Which bets does Qfwfq find most satisfying?

2. When does the narrator suppose that he might finally meet Ursula, and what does he fear about that potential meeting?

3. Describe Lieutenant Fenimore.

4. What happens to the initial wealth that Qfwfq builds up?

5. How do the New Ones' perception of dinosaurs change over the time Qfwfq is with them?

6. What gives Qfwfq an advantage over Dean (k)yK when they bet during the early evolution of the universe?

7. How does Zahn first react to Qfwfq?

8. How does the narrator see evolution as confining?

9. Describe the problems with the advice N'ba N'ga gives his family.

10. Why does the narrator not want to show his desire to meet Ursula at the beginning of the story "The Form of Space"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In COSMICOMICS, the characters exist over enormous periods of time, while astronomical events take place in the formation of the universe. Discuss the role of time in COSMICOMICS.

1) What role does time play in communication in "The Light-Years"? How does time affect the separation between individuals?

2) What is the role of time in "The Dinosaurs"? How does time change perception?

3) What is the effect of passing time on the characters? How does passing time affect older characters like Qfwfq's uncle in "The Aquatic Uncle," and his grandmother in "At Daybreak"?

4) What is the effect of astronomical lengths of time in the stories? How does the passage of astronomical lengths of time affect the betting in "How Much Shall We Bet?" and Qfwfq in "A Sign in Space"? How do the astronomical lengths of time in the novel affect the reader's understanding of Qfwfq?

Essay Topic 2

Throughout COSMICOMICS, perception affects and often creates reality. Discuss the relationship of perception and reality in COSMICOMICS.

1) How do others' opinions of Qfwfq (or the unnamed narrator) shape his opinion of himself and his actions in Calvino's stories?

2) In "All at One Point," how does shared perception create reality? Why is shared perception more powerful than individual perception?

3) How do the different characters' perceptions of change in "At Daybreak" and "Without Colors" affect their experience of reality?

Essay Topic 3

Calvino's stories parallel each other to a greater or lesser degree. Discuss the parallels between stories in COSMICOMICS.

1) What parallels are there between "The Spiral," "The Light-Years," and "A Sign in Space"? How are these three stories' portrayals of signs and creation different and similar?

2) What parallels are there between "At Daybreak," "Without Colors," and "The Aquatic Uncle"? How are these three stories' portrayals of change and human reactions to change different and similar?

3) What parallels are there between "How Much Shall We Bet?" and "Games Without End"? How are these two stories' portrayals of rivalry different and similar?

4) What other parallels are there between the stories in COSMICOMICS? What role do parallels between the stories play in the development of Calvino's themes?

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