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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 learn at the commune run by Beck?

2. How is the dog?

3. Who is Harvey Randall?

4. What does Sharps say are the odds of the comet hitting earth?

5. What does Senator Jellison hear while monitoring the astronauts' radio?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What advice does Tim give the ranger?

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

4. What does Harvey find when he finally makes it home?

5. What do Tim and Eileen find when they arrive at Tujunga and what is the implication?

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

7. Who seems to take Armitage's type of preaching to heart in this section and what does he do?

8. Do you think Harry is a little crazy for continuing his pursuit to deliver the mail?

9. Why are Frank, Mark and Joanne in the desert?

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

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

As Joanna listens to Mark and Frank, she's increasingly annoyed that Mark continually interrupts Frank with opinions of his own regarding what other catastrophes could cause the end of the world. Frank had originally been undecided whether to accompany the couple, but had gone because he felt Mark incapable of protecting Joanna and Joanna overly confident that she could protect herself. This book is set in the time in which it is written, the mid-1970s. Choose one of the following to discuss:

Discuss three predominant characteristics of 2 of the major female characters in the book. Do you think these women would be portrayed in a similar fashion in a book written today?

Do women still "need" protecting by men? If such a catastrophe happened in the first decade of the 21st century, would women have a different role than in this book?

Some of the fights take place because there are not enough women to "go around." Discuss this idea and its implications.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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