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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 Harry do when he cannot get past the cracks in the road?

2. Why does Gil think he might live?

3. What is Harvey driving to get home?

4. Who wants to meet the Romans?

5. Where is Eileen Hancock?

Short Essay Questions

1. What policy does Jellison and his cohorts decide upon and do you agree with them?

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

3. What is one repercussion of the "gloom and doom" message preached by Henry Armitage and others?

4. What makes Gordie decide not to commit suicide?

5. Why is the rain that is falling salty?

6. What happens to Norm Lilly that demonstrates the continued deterioration of law and order?

7. Who finds Harvey and what do they do?

8. What is Harry doing when the comet strikes and what is his response?

9. How do the astronauts decide to land in California?

10. What demonstrates how those who survive are the ones who concentrate on their own survival?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Tim and Eileen arrive at Tim's observatory to find several men - led by Marty Robbins - guarding with guns, refusing Tim admittance and saying generally that laws of ownership no longer exist. When Harry finds the Chicken Farm vacant and the owners deceased, he decides to take up residence there. Discuss the following:

Do you think the laws of ownership are impossible to maintain under this type of situation? Why or why not?

Is it moral to have kept Tim from his own property and thus increasing his vulnerability to being killed? Discuss.

Does it seem ethical for Harry to take up residence at the Chicken Farm? Why or why not?

If the United States government and State's governments are eventually established, who do you think should own a piece of property--the former owners or those who have commandeered the property?

Essay Topic 2

Soon after the comet hits, Eric goes back to the Burbank Jail where he finds that a jailer has released all the prisoners except Fred. Eric, citing the fact that no one deserved to die locked in a cell, kills the murderer. Discuss the following:

Do you believe Eric did the right thing in killing Fred?

What if it were a prisoner where the certainty of his guilt was not proved; then what should Eric do?

What do you think should happen in the prisons across the United States where those serving time have been found guilty in a court of law? Should they be released from certain death if they remain locked up?

Essay Topic 3

The concern that the comet could hit Earth is becoming an epidemic. Many fear that it will create an end-of-the-world scenario, despite what the experts are saying. Discuss the following:

What would you believe were you part of an earth that was in the same situation as in the book?

Would you take precautions to prepare for a disaster? What would they be?

How often have you heard a dire prediction about the earth? Do you believe any of the predictions? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,610 words (approx. 6 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample