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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. What kind of car does Peter have?

2. In Australia, what do they figure will go a little before Sydney?

3. Why is there a shortage of fuel?

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

5. Why is the USS Scorpion able to sail in spite of the fuel shortage?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the consensus about which countries actually started the war?

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

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

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

5. How has the boisterous revelry of the townspeople changed over the past year?

6. What is notable about Mary's plans for her garden?

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

Essay Topic 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 592 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample