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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How does one astronomer refer to asteroids?
(a) Arrows of outrageously bad fortune.
(b) Fireworks of the heavens.
(c) Pests of gigantic proportion.
(d) Vermin of the skies.

2. Why is Baked Alaska mentioned in Chapter 14?
(a) Because it is a favorite at U.P. banquets.
(b) Because Rama is hot on the outside and cold on the inside, like a Baked Alaska dessert,
(c) Because Baked Alaska is the most complicated dessert the Simps can make.
(d) Because it is a reminder of Earth.

3. According to Chapter 6, how far is the distance between Earth and Mars?
(a) One hundred million kilometers.
(b) Five hours by shuttle.
(c) Three hundred million kilometers.
(d) The same distance as the Sun is from the Earth.

4. How long is the normal "day" for a normal asteroid versus one for Rama?
(a) Nearly twelve hours versus about an hour.
(b) Several hours versus four minutes.
(c) About the same as for Mars and Venus.
(d) About the same as for the Earth and the Moon.

5. How old is Dr. Bose?
(a) Seventy-nine years old.
(b) One hundred fifteen years old.
(c) Eighty-nine years old.
(d) Sixty-three years old.

6. What is the initial reaction of the human race to Rama?
(a) Excitement.
(b) Dismay.
(c) Fear.
(d) Curiosity.

7. What is the main tenet of the Fifth Church of Christ?
(a) Jesus was a visitor from space.
(b) Technology is a gift from God.
(c) The four predecessor churches were corrupt.
(d) Jesus has been reincarnated five times.

8. Who goes with the Commander on the first EVA?
(a) James Pak.
(b) Boris Rodrigo.
(c) Joe Calvert.
(d) Karl Mercer.

9. In Chapter 10, how do the explorers descend the ladder?
(a) The explorers slide along the handrail to descend.
(b) The explorers bounce down the ladder three rungs at a time.
(c) The explorers ascended the ladder, they did not descend.
(d) The explorers did not use the ladder.

10. What is the object that is first cataloged as 31/439?
(a) One of Saturn's rings.
(b) One of Jupiter's moons.
(c) The mysterious object that became known as Rama.
(d) A chunk of space junk that is tracked by the super computers until it crashes into Mars.

11. What does the Commander think about the amount of responsibility he must shoulder on this mission?
(a) He is glad that some of the decisions are made by those on Earth, but also envies navigators of the past.
(b) He is uncertain that it is smart to put all decision-making authority in the hands of one commander.
(c) He wishes he had less decision-making authority.
(d) He enjoys having the lion's share of decision-making authority.

12. What event do the inhabitants of Earth see as inevitable?
(a) Continued cosmic bombardment of the Moon, causing additional scarring of the "face."
(b) The overpopulation of Earth.
(c) The destruction of the city of Venice by a tsunami, caused by the eruption of Krakatoa.
(d) Catastrophic destruction caused by a meteorite from space landing in an inhabited city.

13. SPACEGUARD is keeping track of how many asteroids at once?
(a) Two hundred fifty thousand.
(b) Fifty thousand.
(c) One hundred thousand.
(d) Half a million.

14. How long does the Commander wait before exploring Rama?
(a) Thirty-six hours.
(b) Twenty-four hours.
(c) Twelve hours.
(d) Eighteen hours.

15. According to Chapter 1, what happens after the initial shock wore off in 2077?
(a) A great war broke out that caused losses of more than a trillion dollars.
(b) The people of Earth became united and determined.
(c) The wealth of the world was squandered as many countries attempted to destroy weapons launched at their citizens.
(d) Skills long forgotten were revived and taught in colleges and universities.

Short Answer Questions

1. What slides out of the wall of the pillbox-shaped structure?

2. What is Sita?

3. What loss is so great that it was beyond all computation?

4. What possibility causes Dr. Petera to suggest that Rama be evacuated early?

5. What location is home to more than a million people who had their hearing permanently damaged in 2077?

(see the answer keys)

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