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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 Pelorat compare Trevize's exploration of three planets to?

2. What is Bliss afraid of, if she reveals the truth about Bander's death?

3. How do the people on the island react to the newcomers?

4. What does Hiroko think of Bliss' clothing?

5. What does Trevize accidentally break off the statue?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Bliss annoyed with Trevize for setting off the computer's alarm?

2. How does Trevize feel about Solaria?

3. What criticism does Trevize have of the Solarian society?

4. What reason does Pelorat think Bliss has for taking Fallom with them?

5. What is Trevize's reasoning for continuing to search for information about Earth, now that he's found the planet and sees that it's radioactive?

6. Where does Bander get power?

7. What makes the rays of the sun deadly on Melpomenia?

8. How does Trevize react when the ship's controls are taken over as they approach the moon?

9. Describe Trevize and Pelorat's important discovery on Melpomenia.

10. What aspects of the environment on New Earth affect the people's culture?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the genre of the novel.

1) What aspects of the novel make it science fiction? What science is important to the novel?

2) What aspects of the mystery genre does this novel have? What is the mystery at the heart of the novel?

3) In what ways does Trevize act as a detective? What is the "twist" at the end of the novel?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss predestination and choice in the novel.

1) Are characters' choices predestined by their psychology and environment?

2) The characters are unaware that they are being manipulated by Daneel. Do they still have choice or is free will an illusion?

3) In the novel, is the course of society as a whole predestined by the nature of man and his environment? In what ways is the course of society predestined or uncertain?

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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