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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 seems to increase the tolerance to radioactivity, by a few days?

2. What does Dwight order the captain of the USS Swordfish to do with his submarine?

3. What impractical thing does Mary want Peter to buy?

4. What is the source of the mysterious radio signal Sunderstrom is looking for?

5. What is John's most recent prognosis for the radiation cloud?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is Moira changing from thinking planting plants for the next year is a silly waste of time?

2. How does being in the submarine compare to racing the Ferrari to John?

3. Describe the symbolism of Dwight's thinking about his family while on board the Scorpion.

4. Explain what prevents Dwight from going fishing for trout before September 1st.

5. Why is Dwight upset over a painting at the National Gallery?

6. How is John Osbourne different in the face of coming death?

7. Why does John say his uncle, Sir Froude, still appears to be healthy?

8. How does Mary put out of her mind that Sydney and Adelaide now have the radiation sickness?

9. What does John Osbourne tell Peter when he asks about how much more time they have?

10. How does baby Jennifer give Mary a fright?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Write an essay on how families face problems together. Use the Holmes family as a good example. Use John Osbourne as an example of a man who does not have a family of his own. State your opinion about the value of a family during difficult times.

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?

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This section contains 623 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample