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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 Trevize promise the minister?

2. What finally drives off the animals?

3. What does the minister say the condition of Earth is now?

4. What is Pelorat's experience of Gaia like?

5. After their experience on Aurora, what does Trevize offer Bliss?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Pelorat say the rain means, when the spaceship is departing?

2. Trevize admits Gaia's peacefulness, but he still dislikes it. What does he value that he's afraid of losing to Gaia?

3. Who picks up the three travelers when they land on Comporellon?

4. What does Lizalor do when she hears the word "Earth"?

5. Why won't Bliss use her mental powers to help Trevize keep the Far Star?

6. Why does Pelorat want to stay on Aurora?

7. What are some differences between animal life in the galaxy as Trevize knows it and animals on Earth today?

8. Why does Trevize question the reason for a large crowd watching the spaceship take off?

9. What does Trevize want to prove during his sexual encounter with the government minister?

10. How does Trevize feel when he first steps off his ship onto Aurora?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Human beings have a tendency to look at those outside our own cultural groups as "others," often to be feared or distrusted. Discuss the "other" in the novel.

1) How does Fallom's lack of gender, as neither male nor female, make him an "other" to Trevize?

2) Trevize seems to view Bliss as an "other" at the beginning of the novel and then come to accept her over time. How does this transformation happen?

3) How does distrust of the "other" protect societies and cultures in the novel?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the role of women and sexuality in the novel.

1) Compare the two sexual encounters Trevize has with the female representatives of societies he visits. Does Trevize use his sexuality to manipulate one or both of these women? Do the women use sexuality to manipulate him?

2) How are sexual mores different in the different cultures in the novel? How does this affect the role of women in those cultures?

3) Is Bliss a strong female character? How does her sexuality affect her role in the novel?

Essay Topic 3

Throughout the novel, various means of manipulation are used by the characters to get what they want.

1) Discuss Trevize's use of lies, bullying, and bribery to get what he wants. Are his actions justifiable? Why does Trevize use these means?

2) Discuss the use of sex as a tool of manipulation. Are characters justified in playing on each other's emotional responses?

3) Discuss Daneel's manipulation of the human race. Is it justified, according to the Laws of Robotics?

4) Discuss Bliss's ability to manipulate minds. Why does she set limits on when and how she will use her abilities?

(see the answer keys)

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