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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 does Sunderstrom find that he cannot take back to the submarine?

2. In spite of the news, what are Peter and Mary doing?

3. Where is Albury that has a suspected case of radiation sickness?

4. Who starts the push to get the fishing season moved back in Australia?

5. Where are the most southerly cases now, according to John's update?

Short Essay Questions

1. What has Moira managed to locate that makes Dwight happy enough to drift off to sleep?

2. What is Mary's initial reaction to the suicide pills and syringe?

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

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

5. Describe the contradictory things Peter brings home for the baby.

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

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

8. What is it that Moira agrees to do for Mary if Peter does not return in time?

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

10. On the long voyage of the Scorpion, what are they able to learn about San Francisco?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay on the absurdity of nuclear armament. In your essay discuss why governments still stockpile nuclear weapons after what was learned at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Express whether you think nuclear weapons will ever be abandoned all over the word.

Essay Topic 2

Write a critique of Nevil Shute's ON THE BEACH. Evaluate Shute as a story teller and how well he holds the attention of the reader. Also evaluate the importance of the subject matter and whether it contributes a good message to the world. Mention the parts you think are strongest and weakest in the book. Conclude with a recommendation as to who would most benefit from reading the novel.

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.

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