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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 state do Richard and Shimoda have dinner at the start of the chapter?

2. What does Richard wish for Shimoda as Richard is sitting by his fire?

3. What does Richard call the movement of the time period in which people are turning from the material to the spiritual?

4. Richard dreams about a ___________ of humanity pouring against a man.

5. ___________ cares noting about human illusions and games and knows only itself and humans in its perfect, finished likeness.

Short Essay Questions

1. What message from the book does Richard think does not apply to him?

2. What does Shimoda tell Richard to do in order to vaporize clouds?

3. Describe the story the Messiah uses in order to answer the millworker's objection that the Master does not have to work.

4. What does Richard have to say about life when eating dinner with Shimoda in Hammond, Wisconsin?

5. What did Donald W. Shimoda retire from being, according to the beginning of the story?

6. What are two names Shimoda admits to being representative of who he really is?

7. What cares nothing about human illusions and games?

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

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

10. What does Shimoda assure Richard about the training to be a Messiah?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Shimoda seems to work miracles during the story, even though they might not appear to be miracles to anyone but the ones to which they happen.

Part 1: Describe what happens with the old man and the 10-year-girl when they encounter Shimoda.

Part 2: Describe what happens with the man in the wheelchair when he encounters Shimoda.

Part 3: Why doesn't anyone notice these miracles as being miracles?

Essay Topic 2

The idea of a Messiah being able to quit is a unique idea in the eyes of most readers.

Part 1: How is the term Messiah defined in this story?

Part 2: Why does Shimoda want to quit his position as a Messiah?

Part 3: How does Shimoda end up quitting his role as the Master or Messiah?

Essay Topic 3

Shimoda's quitting his role as the Mechanic Messiah or the American Avatar is one that continues to show readers a new side of being all knowing and all powerful.

Part 1: Why has Shimoda decided to come back to everyday life as a pilot after being the Master?

Part 2: What are some of the problems with coming back to everyday life after having been a Messiah?

Part 3: What is Shimoda's opinion of Jesus and his role as a Messiah? What does he think about the idea of Jesus quitting his job?

(see the answer keys)

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