View a FREE sample

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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Joe Calvert assume about the builders of Rama?
(a) The builders of Rama are humanoid.
(b) The builders of Rama are small in stature.
(c) The builders of Rama are more intelligent than humans.
(d) The builders of Rama are able to see in the dark.

2. What possibility causes Dr. Petera to suggest that Rama be evacuated early?
(a) The detrimental effect of total darkness on humans.
(b) Hurricanes.
(c) Excessive heat.
(d) The discovery of a new asteroid.

3. What is Sita?
(a) A space-probe that is originally intended to launch from Mars to go beyond Neptune.
(b) A long range missile designed to destroy Rama.
(c) A big orbiting telescope.
(d) A pod of special cameras intended to photograph Rama from all sides.

4. What surprises Commander Norton as he approached Rama for the rendezvous?
(a) Rama's overwhelming size.
(b) The realization that Rama's mass is smaller than predicted.
(c) That landing on the Moon or Mars is easier than landing on Rama.
(d) That Jupiter VIII is slightly larger than Rama.

5. Where on Rama does the Endeavour land?
(a) Near the sundial in the sunlit portion.
(b) At the very center.
(c) At the North Pole.
(d) In the shadows of the structures near the axis.

6. For the Commander, Straight Valley reminds him of what part of his past?
(a) A summer vacation in England.
(b) His first marriage.
(c) An education in industrial archaeology, abandoned in college.
(d) His childhood in the foothills.

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

8. Twice a day the explorers must perform an action. What is it?
(a) Exercise at three-quarters of a gee for ten minutes.
(b) Take a nap.
(c) Maintain radio silence while transmissions are relayed to Earth.
(d) Chew a high calorie snack.

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

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

11. Why is a cloud of vapor sent toward Rama?
(a) As a method to measure the temperature on the surface of Rama.
(b) To see if it will interact with Rama and produce "fireworks."
(c) To see if Rama has enough gravity to hold an atmosphere.
(d) To see if it will be sucked into the interior of Rama.

12. How many asteroids are being discovered by PROJECT SPACEGUARD by the year 2130?
(a) Two hundred a year.
(b) Five a month.
(c) Twelve a day.
(d) A thousand in 120 years.

13. How many members of the United Planets are there?
(a) Twelve.
(b) Ten.
(c) Six.
(d) Nine.

14. What is unusual about object 31/439?
(a) It is given a name of a mythological creature.
(b) It is traveling in an ellipse with clockwork precision that is retraced every few years.
(c) It is traveling straight past the orbits of the inner planets and will impact the Sun.
(d) It has a diameter of forty kilometers and is traveling in an atypical asteroidal path.

15. Who does the Commander depend on to land the Endeavour?
(a) James Pak.
(b) Joe Calvert.
(c) Boris Rodrigo.
(d) Bill Norton.

Short Answer Questions

1. Rama is compared to what ordinary object?

2. In Chapter 11, what is identified as a psychological problem that may arise for the explorers?

3. Who are the first three explorers on Rama?

4. SPACEGUARD is keeping track of how many asteroids at once?

5. How does one astronomer refer to asteroids?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 675 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample