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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 are Chet and Mabel Hawker and their friends, the Andersons, doing when they see a flash of light?

2. How is the dog?

3. After the red alert, who joins Rosten and Luce in the bunker?

4. Where is Loretta?

5. Besides the residents, who else is at the ranch?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Harry Newcombe, the mail carrier, decides to continue delivering his mail despite all that has occurred. Additionally, he self-appoints his role as message carrier to the area around the Jellison ranch. Discuss the following:

How does Harry's role provide some comic relief to the intensity of so much else that is happening?

Do you think Harry as a self-proclaimed messenger has an important role in the book? Why or why not.

Does Harry maintaining his mail schedule help to calm others? Why or why not?

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 1,465 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample