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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 note say from the young boy?

2. Who does Sir Bloet bring with him?

3. What does Kivrin do as she looks at the sick clerk?

4. What does Kivrin ask Fr. Roche to do?

5. Why does Kirvin want Gawyn to return as soon as possible?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Father Roche return to where the clerk lies and what does Kirvin ask of him?

2. Describe Mary Ahrens.

3. Who is the next victim to fall ill and how does Kirvin discover it?

4. What note does the young boy bring from the bishop and why does Kirvin already know its contents?

5. What about the virus situation in modern times concerns Dunworthy?

6. What does Kivrin write in her Doomsday Book about various victims?

7. Describe the discussion between Badri and Dunworthy about Kirvin's time travel.

8. How does Kivrin slip up and what does she do to try to cover her mistake?

9. What does Kivrin talk about with Rosemund and what is her response?

10. What does Kivrin write about the church bells and cemetery?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

1. What do you think are the characteristics of a successful novel?

2. Analyze and discuss Doomsday Book based upon the criteria you decide upon in #1 and judge if Doomsday Book is a successful novel. Explain your rationale with specific examples.

3. Do you think the fact that Doomsday Book falls within the science fiction genre changes the criteria upon which its success should be judged? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

The time this novel takes place in 2054, approximately 44 years from the present time of 2010. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think technology will have advanced far enough in 44 years to have developed time travel?

2. Willis wrote this book in 1992. Do you think Willis set the novel in the year 2054 because she believes time travel will be developed by then? If not, why do you think she sets the novel such a short distance in the future from the time she writes the book?

3. Does it hinder the ability to "believe" the novel in that it is set in the near future and has such a highly technical ability such as time travel? Why or why not.

(see the answer keys)

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