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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. Which area of science do the scientists debate?

2. Why does Sabul become angry with Shevek?

3. What kind of people normally have to spend time on the Segvina Island?

4. What happened to Kadagv while he was imprisoned?

5. Which of his old friends does Shevek run into after the death of his teacher?

Short Essay Questions

1. In what ways does Shevek begin to feel more connected to the Urrasti people?

2. What do you think the wall symbolizes in this chapter?

3. In what way does Shevek re-evaluate his purpose on Urras?

4. In what way has Anarres become resemble more a dystopia than utopia?

5. How does Shevek's trip to the retail district of Nio Esseia poke holes in his belief that Urrasti society is all-providing?

6. What is the overall outcome of the council meeting?

7. What is the significance of the wall surrounding the port?

8. What does the man's hand, shot off at the end of the chapter, symbolize to Shevek?

9. How does time again become an issue in this chapter?

10. For what is Shevek really fighting?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Shevek writes two papers in the novel.

1) Principles of Simultanely

2) General Temporal Theory

Describe each paper and discuss how Shevek's ideas have matured through the novel.

Essay Topic 2

The wall is an important metaphor in the story and means different things at different points.

1) What does the wall that surrounds the Port of Anarres symbolize?

2) What is the significance of the prison walls that surround Kadagv?

3) What is the link between the wall and Shevek's parents?

4) What do you think the overall meaning of the wall is?

Essay Topic 3

What do you think Ursula's Le Guin's viewpoint is in the novel? In what ways does she show it?

(see the answer keys)

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