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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 Richard wish for Shimoda as Richard is sitting by his fire?

2. Where does Shimoda go to stand when he asks Richard to watch him?

3. Richard tells Shimoda he will give him his plane because Richard believes one day he will not need it in order to _______.

4. Shimoda tells Richard he once ___________ in front of 25,000 eyewitnesses, which is why he's always on the move.

5. Shimoda says: Once one learns what the world is and how it works, one _________ performs so-called miracles.

Short Essay Questions

1. When Richard cannot vaporize clouds, what does he realize about the process?

2. What does Shimoda say when Richard asks him why no one likes his pan-bread?

3. What does Richard do in order to readjust to the loneliness of not having Shimoda around?

4. What does Shimoda give to Richard when Richard asks how Shimoda can know so much and how he can learn about being a Messiah?

5. What is the passage Shimoda shares with Richard after the situation that occurs in #19?

6. What does Richard answer when Shimoda asks him why he is at the movie?

7. What passage can Shimoda not recall as Richard is flipping through the section on Perspective?

8. What does Richard dream about before he is awakened at 3:00 A.M., happy about the dream?

9. What happens when Shimoda tosses Richard a wrench as they are working on the engine?

10. What does Shimoda say to Richard's question about the pages in the book not being numbered?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The book Shimoda gives to Richard reveals as many questions as the answers it provides to a person who reads it.

Part 1: What might this Savior's Manual be akin to in real life? What books in real life might provide the same counsel?

Part 2: Why might Richard need to be given a book to learn from, rather than being taught what he needs to know?

Part 3: Why doesn't the book give direct answers to those who read it?

Essay Topic 2

The theme of flying is symbolic in a number of ways in this story. The planes which fly are gypsy planes, unchecked and possibly illegal.

Part 1: Describe the idea of gypsy flying. What does it entail?

Part 2: How does the idea of flying relate to the idea of being a Messiah?

Part 3: What does flying symbolize to Richard during the story?

Essay Topic 3

Richard begins to have troubles vaporizing clouds at one point, recognizing that he is simply making things too difficult for himself.

Part 1: Why does Richard want to vaporize clouds in the first place?

Part 2: In what way is Richard making the vaporization of clouds too difficult on himself?

Part 3: What is the lesson Richard can extract from this moment of trying to vaporize clouds?

(see the answer keys)

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