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 does Harvey find in the bedroom?

2. What does Tim share with Eileen?

3. What does Fred say on his way to jail?

4. What does the Hammerlab realize the morning the comet is to arrive?

5. How do Tim and Eileen manage to get away from the city?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. Briefly describe Tim and Eileen's journey by car to the observatory.

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

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

7. Most of the major characters are introduced in these first dozen or so chapters and much of what is written is about the protagonist(s), antagonist(s) and secondary characters. Define those three terms.

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

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

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

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 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,700 words (approx. 6 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample