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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Why does the USS Swordfish leave Rio for Montevideo?
(a) radiation has not reached Montevideo
(b) radiation gets too hot in Rio
(c) they think some people are alive in Montevideo
(d) they need a change of scenery

2. What assignment does Peter receive?
(a) liaison officer on the USS Scorpion
(b) communications officer on the USS Swordfish
(c) paymaster for the Royal Australian Navy
(d) commander of the H.M.A.S Melbourne

3. What do they figure will go before Melbourne?
(a) Uraguay
(b) the Maldives
(c) Africa and South America
(d) India

4. What has happened at the outset of the novel?
(a) nuclear destruction of the Northern hemisphere
(b) the people of Melbourne, Australia, hold car races
(c) the USS Scorpion is lost at sea
(d) news media reports a pending nuclear war

5. What does Moira's father ask Dwight?
(a) if he will stay to the end on the farm
(b) if he plans to move his ship further south
(c) if he plans to sink his ship
(d) if he will leave before the radiation arrives

6. After the trail cruise, who comes to inspect the USS Scorpion?
(a) the Prime Minister
(b) Vice Admiral, Sir David Hartman
(c) former general, Sir Douglas Froude
(d) the Mayor of Melbourne

7. After the war, where was a conference held to assess the situation?
(a) Falmouth, Australia
(b) Wellington, New Zealand
(c) Sydney, Australia
(d) Christ Church, New Zealand

8. What have Peter and Mary learned to do because of the shortages?
(a) raise chickens for eggs
(b) weave cloth
(c) make their own butter
(d) knit socks

9. Where is the USS Swordfish, another nuclear powered submarine?
(a) down in the Antarctic
(b) in the Persian Gulf
(c) off the coast of France
(d) off the coast of South America

10. Who do Peter and John meet at the Pastoral Club in Melbourne?
(a) the Vice Admiral of the Australian Navy
(b) Sir Douglas Froude, John's great uncle, a retired Lieutenant General
(c) Moira and Dwight
(d) the Prime Minister

11. Why does Osbourne say that perhaps people did not deserve the world?
(a) we have been too silly
(b) the animals have more sense
(c) we deserve something better
(d) the world has too much to offer

12. What does Moira say about the way people are going on with their lives?
(a) that's the way Australians are
(b) she's not brave enough to do that
(c) keeping busy helps everyone prepare
(d) no one believes the end will come

13. What does Osbourne say about the world?
(a) it will collapse from carbon pollutions
(b) it will go on, there just won't be people
(c) it will become a vast desert planet like Mars
(d) it will disintegrate slowly

14. Why does Peter not take the car to Melbourne?
(a) there is very little gasoline left in the country
(b) the car needs some new parts
(c) the tires are flat
(d) the car refuses to start

15. What does Mary do to protect the baby from the measles?
(a) feeds the baby quinine
(b) forbids Peter to come home
(c) takes the baby to the Davidsons
(d) puts up a mosquito net

Short Answer Questions

1. When does the story take place?

2. What is headed for the Southern hemisphere?

3. What does the Prime Minister say they want from Dwight and his crew?

4. Who is in command on the USS Scorpion?

5. What is John Osbourne's estimate of how long they have to live?

(see the answer keys)

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