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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. In what year was the Second Mercury Expedition sent out, according to Susan Calvin?

2. Who is the narrator in the Introduction of I, Robot?

3. According to Donovan in “Catch That Rabbit,” if the robots don’t pass the tests on the asteroid, U.S. Robots will lose how many credits in cash?

4. For whom is the narrator of the Introduction writing a feature article?

5. On how many occasions has Donovan watched the ore-mining robots on their shift in the beginning of “Catch That Rabbit”?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is established through the exposition in the Introduction? Who are the characters that are first introduced?

2. What news does Donovan relate to Powell in the beginning of “Runaround”?

3. What is the central objective of Gloria in “Robbie”? How does this relate to the story’s themes?

4. What do Donovan and Powell discover about the robots’ behavior when they are not knowingly being observed in “Catch That Rabbit”?

5. Where are Donovan and Powell in the beginning of “Reason”? How much time has elapsed since “Runaround”?

6. What breakdown in the Three Laws of Robotics is indicated in “Runaround”?

7. Why does Mrs. Weston interrupt Mr. Weston’s private time in his office in the beginning of “Robbie”?

8. What is established about the capacity of robots in “Robbie”? What is foreshadowed in the story?

9. How does Cutie describe his conclusions of existence to Donovan and Powell as they discover the coming storm in “Reason”?

10. What is foreshadowed by Dr. Calvin’s comments about labor unions and religious groups in the Introduction?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe and analyze the role of U.S. Robots and Mechanical Men Corporation in the novel. How is this company involved in the story of “Robbie”? What is related about the goals of the company by Dr. Susan Calvin? How does Calvin feel about U.S. Robotics upon retiring?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the setting of “Liar!” What is the year in which the story is set? How does this setting relate to the others introduced in the book? Who are the main characters in this story?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the Three Laws of Robotics as an organizing principle and unifying theme for Asimov's works. What are the three laws, and what short story (included in I, Robot) first introduced them? How do the laws apply in the stories of the collection? What do they symbolize in our contemporary world?

(see the answer keys)

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