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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Dwight tell Moira he would like to do?
(a) to take her out in the submarine
(b) to marry her before it's too late
(c) to help her father with some of the farm chores
(d) to build her a house in the country

2. Why does Mr. Davidson think people are not migrating south ahead of the radiation?
(a) they do not really believe it is going to happen to them
(b) they have no idea where to go
(c) they think the radiation will weaken quickly
(d) not enough publicity had time to get to everyone

3. Why is John Osbourne assigned to the USS Scorpion?
(a) as communications officer to translate Australian speech
(b) as medical officer to care for injured
(c) as morale officer to entertain the sailors
(d) as science officer to test the levels of radiation

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

5. Why is there a shortage of fuel?
(a) it all used to come from the Northern hemisphere
(b) only the military has access to reserves
(c) the oil pipelines were all blown up
(d) the reserves have all been contaminated

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

7. How does Dwight react to the country?
(a) it makes him sad for America
(b) it makes him wish for the city
(c) it makes him wonder if he can do the work
(d) it makes him happy to see the trees again

8. Who knows about the destination for the upcoming trip of the USS Scorpion according to Dwight?
(a) only Peter and him who have told Mary and Moira
(b) everyone except him
(c) only John Osbourne who carries sealed orders
(d) only Peter, John, and him

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

10. How long does Peter say the next trip of the Scorpion will probably take?
(a) about two months
(b) about one year
(c) about six months
(d) about six weeks

11. What does Peter instruct Mary how to do if he is not back when the radiation hits?
(a) stay in the house with the doors and windows closed
(b) head south where he will find her
(c) eat only what they grew in their garden
(d) kill the baby and herself

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

13. When is the radiation expected to reach Australia?
(a) next June or July
(b) next week
(c) next September
(d) next year

14. How long did the nuclear war last in the Northern hemisphere?
(a) six months
(b) one week
(c) one year
(d) thirty-seven days

15. How did the war escalate?
(a) other countries seeing a chance to gain territory
(b) when Japan joined the conflict
(c) the nuclear fallout began affecting other countries
(d) no one really knows

Short Answer Questions

1. What is John's uncle doing that he had given up for health reasons?

2. Who do Peter and Mary invite to their house to keep Dwight entertained?

3. What do they figure will go before Melbourne?

4. What has happened at the outset of the novel?

5. What does Peter do as the sub returns to Melbourne?

(see the answer keys)

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