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. What is one problem the nuclear plant is facing?

2. Where are Major Bennet Rosten and Captain Harold Luce waiting commands.

3. Why do the astronauts consider aborting?

4. What do Eileen and Tim find in Tujunga?

5. What forms over Mexico?

Short Essay Questions

1. What demonstrates that the women are handling the situation quite well?

2. What advice does Tim give the ranger?

3. Describe a couple of Harry's "appointed rounds" and an evaluation of this man.

4. How does Harry happen take up residence at a chicken ranch and do you think he has the right to do so?

5. Identify who you think are the protagonist(s), antagonist(s) and two or three secondary characters and why.

6. Define the literary term "comic relief" and give an example of it from this section.

7. What do Tim and Eileen do after leaving the observatory and what is your analysis of their actions?

8. Why do most scientists misjudge the path of the comet before it hits earth?

9. What exchange between Barry and Delores seems to remove some pressure from Barry?

10. How are Harvey and Gordie somewhat similar in their financial situations?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

While they are discussing the plan for survival if the comet is to hit, there's some dissent over the issue. Jellison makes the point that the best course is to pool resources, so the entire community can survive. While Ray says that it sounds like communism, George says that it makes sense to join together. Discuss the following:

Do you agree with George that it makes sense to pool resources? Why or why not.

If you had laid in huge amounts of survival supplies and were asked to share in a community setting, would you be willing? What could a group offer you that you do not have yourself if you planned ahead?

What is the number one problem with trying to survive in small numbers, say at the family level?

Essay Topic 2

Senator Jellison has an assistant quietly go about gathering survival supplies, though his formal statement is that there's no reason to panic. Discuss the following:

Do you think it is moral for officials who have greater knowledge than the average citizen about a possible future disaster to keep that information from the public? Discuss in context of this story and any personal knowledge you have from "real" life.

How can the government warn citizens to prepare for a disaster of this magnitude without causing total panic and a dangerous situation just from the panic?

Do you trust your government when it comes to receiving warnings about possible natural and/or man-made disasters that may affect you? Why or why not.

Essay Topic 3

In an underground concrete bunker somewhere in the northeastern United States, Major Bennet Rosten and Captain Harold Luce are waiting commands. The US fears that the Russians will believe the US "blind and crippled" by the comet event, using that as a time to strike. Discuss the following:

Is it realistic to think that in the middle of a terrible, global crisis that the Russians would launch nuclear warheads at another country? Why or why not?

Why do you think China makes a preemptive strike against Russian when all countries may have to cooperate to overcome total global annihilation from the effects of the comet?

Would you authorize nuclear weapon attacks during such a crisis? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,711 words (approx. 6 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample