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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. Jonathan realizes that gulls do not have to settle for a ________ life.

2. The voice tells Jonathan he does not have ________ for brains.

3. How far up in the sky is Jonathan at first when he is practicing his flying?

4. If falcons were meant to fly at night, the voice says, they would have the eyes of what bird?

5. What does Jonathan drop on purpose when he realizes he just wants to fly and it was pointless for him to try to be like other birds?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens to Jonathan every time he tries to turn a full power dive into a vertical dive?

2. How many seagulls are in the morning Flock of seagulls that are simply trying to find food to eat?

3. Who is the seagull that practices flying slowly, far apart from the others as they are searching for food and eating?

4. What does Jonathan discover is the key to turning when he is flying at great speeds?

5. What happens to Jonathan once he begins to tell other gulls they do not have to settle for a drab life?

6. Why doesn't Jonathan feel guilty about breaking the promise to the voice in his head?

7. What does Jonathan do that no other seagull on Earth has done, making him the first?

8. What does Jonathan think the solution might be to his problem in #6?

9. At what height does Jonathan attempt to dive from the morning after his accident and realization?

10. What does Jonathan realize is the secret to his success in flying close to the water?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The cycle of the story continues with Jonathan coming to Fletcher as his new guru. The story continues with Jonathan wanting to impart his knowledge to the next generation of Gulls.

Part 1: How does Jonathan contact Fletcher and become his new teacher?

Part 2: What is Fletcher's response to this occurrence?

Part 3: Why does Fletcher seem to need Jonathan's guidance? Or does he? Support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

It seems that in the definition of reincarnation, Gulls do not come back as anything other than Gulls. This seems strange as traditional thoughts on reincarnation say that animals come back as other animals and even humans.

Part 1: Why don't Gulls come back as anything besides Gulls?

Part 2: What does Chiang say will help to break this cycle of coming back as the same species again and again?

Part 3: Why might Gulls be the only species who come back as the same thing? What reasons can you provide?

Essay Topic 3

The idea of the master's place in a student's life is also questioned in the last part of the book. In the relationship of Fletcher and Jonathan, the way these two Gulls interact impacts them both greatly.

Part 1: What does Fletcher decide to do in order to help spread the word about the lessons he's learned?

Part 2: Why does Jonathan remain at the side of Fletcher? Was this a good idea? Why or why not?

Part 3: Why does Jonathan have to help Fletcher using one of Chiang's techniques? Was this a good idea? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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