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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) Pests of gigantic proportion.
(b) Arrows of outrageously bad fortune.
(c) Vermin of the skies.
(d) Fireworks of the heavens.

2. Rama is compared to what ordinary object?
(a) A globe.
(b) A hot air balloon.
(c) An airship.
(d) A boiler.

3. What is used for a far nobler purpose at the end of Chapter 1?
(a) The wealth of the countries that make up the European Union.
(b) The natural resources found in Europe.
(c) The weaponry skills acquired in the late twentieth century.
(d) The software designed to simulate "celestial target practice."

4. What is Camp Alpha?
(a) A temporary camp on Rama.
(b) A permanent camp on Rama.
(c) The place on Rama thought to be perhaps a million years old.
(d) A temporary meeting place for the Rama Committee.

5. Most asteroids tracked by Spaceguard are described as having this sort of orbit.
(a) Orbits that lay beyond Mars.
(b) Orbits dissimilar to Earth's orbit around the Sun.
(c) Orbits that keep asteroids within the confines of the asteroid belt.
(d) Orbits that posed a possible danger to Earth.

6. In Chapter 16, what is the Commander ignoring because it seems insignificant?
(a) Noise.
(b) Wind.
(c) Darkness.
(d) Temperature change.

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

8. What is the first city to be visited by the Commander and the other explorers?
(a) London.
(b) New York.
(c) Paris.
(d) Tokyo.

9. How does the Commander describe his impressions of Rama after reaching the plain?
(a) The plain is curved as far as the eye can see.
(b) It is like being on a huge, darkened stage with a single spotlight.
(c) Voices echo loudly, so it is necessary to speak in a whisper.
(d) There is always some background noise.

10. Why is Dr. Bose "exiled" from the Earth?
(a) He cannot face reconditioning.
(b) Earth is uninhabitable.
(c) He has a contagious virus.
(d) He is too sentimental to leave his adopted home.

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

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

13. Why is a cloud of vapor sent toward Rama?
(a) To see if it will interact with Rama and produce "fireworks."
(b) As a method to measure the temperature on the surface of Rama.
(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.

14. Which way do "clocks and corkscrews" turn on Rama?
(a) Forwards.
(b) The opposite direction as on Earth.
(c) In and out.
(d) The same direction as on Earth.

15. What loss is so great that it was beyond all computation?
(a) The loss of resources and skills acquired during the twentieth century.
(b) The loss of six hundred thousand people.
(c) The loss to art, to history, to science--and to the whole human race, for the rest of time.
(d) The loss of beautiful dawns and sunsets all over the world.

Short Answer Questions

1. Where is Dr. Bose born?

2. What cities narrowly miss being destroyed in the 20th century?

3. In Chapter 13, what does Joe Calvert do to entertain himself and the rest of the explorers?

4. What event do the inhabitants of Earth see as inevitable?

5. How long is the normal "day" for a normal asteroid versus one for Rama?

(see the answer keys)

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