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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 Peter instruct Mary how to do if he is not back when the radiation hits?

3. What do they figure will go before Melbourne?

4. What will happen when the radiation covers the Southern hemisphere?

5. Why does it not take long to bring Osbourne on board the submarine?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Moira's attitude toward life.

2. What is of special interest about the radio signals coming from around Seattle?

3. How does the story begin?

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

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

6. How does Shute explain the proliferation of atomic weapons?

7. How does the USS Swordfish illustrate the movement of the radiation?

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

9. What is Dwight's experience in church the weekend he spends with Peter and Mary?

10. Why have people grown accustomed to the radiation coming their way and just go about their regular business?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay on the possibility of the same world-wide destruction of all life on the planet could ever really happen. In your essay include the fact that today, just as Shute predicted, small radical nations now have nuclear capability. What is the danger of everything going too far when split second decisions have to be made about using the nuclear arsenal.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay about holding onto personal values regardless of external circumstances. Express your opinion of Dwight who remains faithful to a dead wife and children. Does his behavior in the novel mark him as a heroic figure?

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay about what visitors from another planet find on earth 100 years after ON THE BEACH. In your essay tell what they find and how they speculate what happened to all the people. Use you imagination and be creative.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 649 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample