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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. When the Commander enters Rama, what does he see in the light of the flare?
(a) A miniature sun, moon and stars painted on the ceiling.
(b) The landscape of an entire world.
(c) A circular sea.
(d) A small space station-like structure.

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

3. In Chapter 12, Norton notices something remarkable as he is exploring. What is it?
(a) Ramans must have been physical-fitness fanatics.
(b) Normal walking is possible in the lowered gravity.
(c) He could take Rama for granted despite its size.
(d) There are no signs of wear and tear.

4. Who is the first Character introduced in Chapter 2?
(a) Dr. Stenton.
(b) Dr. Price.
(c) Professor Davidson
(d) Commander Norton

5. For the object 31/149, what do the numbers represent?
(a) The brightness of an object based on the magnitude scale.
(b) The year and order of its discovery.
(c) The year and order of its discovery.
(d) The angular parameters of an object's elliptical orbit.

6. 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 wishes he had less decision-making authority.
(d) He is glad that some of the decisions are made by those on Earth, but also envies navigators of the past.

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

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

9. After how many years does PROJECT SPACEGUARD justify its existence?
(a) Fifty.
(b) Thirty.
(c) One hundred.
(d) One hundred and twenty.

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

11. In Chapter 5, what streams from the newly-opened pillbox "like dazzling diamonds as the brilliant sunlight caught them"?
(a) Oxygen molecules.
(b) Water vapor droplets.
(c) Dust particles.
(d) Anti-matter particles.

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

13. In Chapter 15, how does Dr. Ernst get to the surface of the Cylindrical Sea?
(a) Dr. Ernst is lowered by rope.
(b) Dr. Ernst uses a stairwway.
(c) Dr. Ernst slides frictionlessly down the cliff.
(d) Dr. Ernst repels down the cliff.

14. What event do the inhabitants of Earth see as inevitable?
(a) The overpopulation of Earth.
(b) Continued cosmic bombardment of the Moon, causing additional scarring of the "face."
(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.

15. Where does Dr. Bose currently reside?
(a) On Mars.
(b) On Earth.
(c) On the moon.
(d) On a space station.

Short Answer Questions

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

2. Who is Captain James Cook?

3. How big is the mass of Rama?

4. Who speaks fluent Simplish?

5. How does the Commander describe his impressions of Rama after reaching the plain?

(see the answer keys)

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