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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. Where was Peter stationed when the war started?

2. What does Moira do in Melbourne?

3. What does Dwight announce for their next voyage?

4. What have Peter and Mary learned to do because of the shortages?

5. What does Moira's father ask Dwight?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the reason Sir Froude is drinking wine against his doctor's orders?

2. How had Dwight been warned of the possibility of the war?

3. What is the problem with Moira's ability to understand what has happened in the world?

4. How has the war simplified life in Australia to a large extent?

5. Describe Moira's attitude toward life.

6. Explain Moira's answer that she will face the facts of life next September.

7. How is Moira Davidson dealing with the eminent threat of death by radiation?

8. How do some people hold the hope that one day humans will again populate the Earth?

9. What does Moira learn about Dwight while touring the submarine?

10. Explain why Peter, a navy lieutenant-commander, has not worked for the past seven months.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay about optimism as the mirror image of denial. Express the difference between optimism and denial. Give examples from the novel that indicate an optimism that something might happen to prevent the approaching radiation cloud from reaching Melbourne.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay on suicide as a way of avoiding an otherwise very painful death. Include the moral aspects of suicide in general and explain whether or not you think there may be extenuating circumstances that make suicide acceptable.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay on living out your dreams. John Osbourne in the novel actually missed many years of excitement and pleasure by not racing cars until it was almost too late. In your essay talk about following your dreams because all of life is uncertain anyway.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 628 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample