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 Tim do?

2. What is Harvey supposed to do?

3. What convinces Jellison to let them stay?

4. Why is Harvey chosen for his task?

5. Where does Deke send word about the landing?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Harvey find when he goes to search for his son and the other Boy Scouts and do you think Harvey makes the right decision?

2. How does Harvey help Maureen resolve her inner conflict?

3. What does it seem the general philosophy of life is now for most people?

4. What does Al tell Harvey about Maureen?

5. What are some people resorting to as they try to survive and what do you think of the idea?

6. What decision does Jellison make about Bonar and do you agree with his decision?

7. What does one man who is scavenging with Deke say people are going to have to get used to, and do you think he is right?

8. What are a couple cultural changes that have happened with the comet strike?

9. How does Tim and his group get admitted to the ranch?

10. What does Harvey do and how do his tactics work on delaying the Brotherhood?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Harvey and his friend, Gordie, both have financial problems. Discuss the following:

Compare and contrast the methods both men use to deal with their financial problems.

What personality traits about each man make them solve their problems in different ways? Give examples.

Do you think Gordie being given a second chance will change him? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

It seems that the people who will survive this comet strike are those who do not depend on military, police and rescue crews to save them; the hard truth is that those crews are going to be of little actual use. Discuss the following:

Analyze those who are surviving in the best way possible in the novel and relate how they are able to do so. How much do they depend upon "official" agencies for survival?

How often in real life do people depend upon their government at any level to "save" them? Is this a healthy attitude? Why or why not.

Do you think those in many countries, including the United States, have become too dependent on others to "save" them rather than their own self reliance?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,684 words (approx. 6 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample