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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. Which of the following epithets is applied to humanity?

2. Where does Nell note her spacesuit chafes?

3. Over which of the following is the station noted to pass?

4. To which of the following is the sun compared?

5. Which of the following is the *last* to arrive at the station?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why are there signs restricting toilet use on the station?

2. Why does the daytime view of the earth attract the station crew’s attention?

3. What does Chie note as the most common fate of dagashiya?

4. Why do station crew retrieve orbital litter?

5. Why had Nell’s husband sent her food?

6. Why does the nighttime view of the earth attract the station crew’s attention?

7. What is the station crew’s reaction to the realization that they are, at root, data for future missions?

8. What does Nell find when vacuuming the air vents?

9. Why do station crew have trouble moving their limbs?

10. How does Anton realize his marriage is loveless?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

To what genre other than science fiction might Orbital be considered to belong? What in the text supports that identification? How does it do so?

Essay Topic 2

Consider Shaun’s discussion of the future of humanity in Orbit 11. Is he right? What in the text and in experience lead you to believe as much? How does it do so?

Essay Topic 3

The novel notably lacks an epigraph, something common in novels—and even in works of nonfiction. What effect does the lack of an epigraph have on the narration? How does the effect manifest?

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