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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 character writes the introduction to Shevek's paper?

2. About what does Shevek dream?

3. Which character does Bedap say has spent time on Segvina Island Asylum?

4. How did Urras punish Odo?

5. Why does Shevek have to keep the information he will learn secret?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What does Shevek believe he is seeing?

3. How does the note in Shevek finds in his pocket change his view on Urras?

4. Why does Tirin rebel against his society's view of the universe?

5. In what does Shevek now feel disorientated?

6. What does Takver's presence make Shevek realize?

7. In what does time again become an important factor at the end of the chapter?

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

9. In what way does Efor stoke Shevek's sense of failure?

10. What hope does Shevek and Ketho bring to the two planets?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does the novel reflect the 1960s and 1970s concerns?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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