View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is not working?

2. Who is Kivrin?

3. Who does Dunworthy visit?

4. What explanation does Colin give for being in the quarantine area?

5. How many hours slippage does Badri say there was?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Badri keep saying and where does Dunworthy take him?

2. Why is Kivrin going to be able to go to the drop place, but what happens that she does not get there?

3. Where does Dunworthy go after he's medically cleared, and what does he learn?

4. Where and how is Kivrin when she wakes?

5. Where do Dunworthy and Mary go and what are they waiting for?

6. What are Dunworthy and the others told when they are released from the hospital?

7. Why is Kivrin having trouble understanding the people in the house and how does the situation improve?

8. Describe James Dunworthy.

9. What does Kivrin's interpreter do and does she expect to need it?

10. What does Kivrin do to ensure she can find her pick up spot again and what is her first entry in her Doomsday Book?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Kivrin has begun to realize that many things that had been taken as fact aren't true at all. She notes that the weave of her clothing is too fine, unlike what's worn by everyone else in the household. The language is also much different than what she's been taught. She'll find many other discrepancies over the coming days, but it's noteworthy that the careful research does come to her aid in many situations. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think can account for the discrepancy between Kivrin's experiences and recorded history?

2. Who writes history? Are historical records in "real" life always accurate, mostly accurate, or slightly accurate? How can we know how accurate an historical record is?

3. What are some reasons history has been inadvertently recorded inaccurately? What are some reasons history has been recorded inaccurately intentionally?

4. Do you think it is ever justified to record an event inaccurately? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Many readers of a book such as Doomsday Book place themselves in the position of someone like Kivrin, wondering about what their response would be in a similar situation. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think one of the values of literature is to serve as a reflection of oneself? Why or why not?

2. Socrates said "Know thyself." How can reading a book such as the Doomsday Book help a reader to know him/herself? Do you find yourself reflecting on your own character and abilities when reading Doomsday Book? Why or why not?

3. Choose one specific incident to discuss and compare Kivrin's response to how you think you would respond.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the following:

1. What is a plot? What are the most important elements of a plot and their definition? Do all novels have a plot? Why or why not?

2. Write a brief synopsis of the plot of Doomsday Book, identifying where the various elements of the plot occur (Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution or denouement). Do you find it difficult to identify the plot? Why or why not? What about the various elements of the plot?

3. Identify the major sub-plots and their elements. Do the sub-plots add to the main plot? Why or why not. Are the sub-plots interesting in and of themselves? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,160 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample