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. Why does Dwight think forty percent of his crew will not return to the Scorpion?

2. What kind of car does Peter have?

3. What does Dwight tell Moira he would like to do?

4. Although radiation has reached Townsville, northern Australia, what is the situation?

5. What plants does Mary want around the house?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why did governments resort to using nuclear weapons?

2. Tell what is known about the global nuclear war.

3. What is Moira's objection to Dwight's suggestion that she go to school?

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

5. Describe what the USS Scorpion crew sees everywhere they go.

6. What does John Osbourne estimate was the size of the nuclear war that was fought?

7. What does it mean that the people had all died tidily?

8. How does the relationship between Dwight and Moira develop?

9. How does the story begin?

10. In what way does Dwight hold out some hope for the situation?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay on stoicism in the face of death. Use John Osbourne as your example of a person who knows what to expect and accepts the inevitable. State your opinion about the dignity with which Osbourne faces death.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay about ON THE BEACH as a valuable resource for arguing against nuclear proliferation. In your essay include who should read the book as required reading. These people should be drawn from government and military sources, religious sources, and concerned individuals.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay about the benefits of learning other cultures. Use the fact that the Americans and Australians learn a lot from each other in ON THE BEACH. Then discuss the many things that can be learned from experiencing other cultures.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 579 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample