View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. If you learn nothing, Jonathan finds out, the next world is ________.

2. What do these new birds practice every day, much to the delight of Johnathan?

3. One must know that one has _______ everywhere at once across space and time, according to the Elder Gull.

4. What does the Elder Gull do to prove the answer to #87 is correct?

5. When the other gulls look at Jonathan in awe, what does he proclaim himself to be, needing to learn from them instead?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Jonathan notice about the other gulls, but he falls asleep before he can try out this technique?

2. Who is Jonathan's initial instructor when he arrives in this strange land?

3. What does Jonathan's teacher say when Johnathan asks why there are so few gulls in their location?

4. What does Jonathan believe Heaven should do in terms of limits?

5. When will Jonathan touch heaven, according to Chiang's answers?

6. What is the best speed Jonathan can reach in this new and delightful setting in the story?

7. Describe what happens when Chiang passes to the other world, or transfigures, as many might call it.

8. What are Jonathan's new wings seemingly made out of when he is flying in the new world?

9. What does Jonathan remember to use his wings for, only on occasion, however?

10. What is the one thing Chiang thinks Jonathan needs to work on as he continues to develop his flying and his abilities?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Jonathan yearns to teach the others what he has learned from Sullivan and Chiang. He wants to spread the word about his discoveries and how other Gulls can learn to live their lives.

Part 1: Why does Jonathan believe is a born teacher?

Part 2: What qualities does Jonathan have that will make him a good teacher to those other Gulls?

Part 3: Why can't Jonathan be content teaching the Gulls in heaven where he resides?

Essay Topic 2

Jonathan seems to be a Gull with otherworldly ambitions, it seems. He is always striving for something more, while also asking questions of all around him.

Part 1: Why does Jonathan want more from his life?

Part 2: What does Jonathan want from his life and its experiences?

Part 3: Why doesn't Jonathan just settle for what other Gulls want from their lives? What makes him different?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 687 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample