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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does the first images of Rama prove?
(a) The body of Rama is geometrically imperfect.
(b) Rama is too far away to see clearly.
(c) Rama is not a natural object.
(d) The color of Rama fluctuates from black to shades of gray to white.

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

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

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

5. According to Chapter 9, Rama's orbit is heading directly to where?
(a) The galaxy of Andromeda.
(b) The Milky Way.
(c) The solar system, and much to close to the sun.
(d) The outer planets of the solar system.

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

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

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

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

10. How does Commander Norton feel about landing on Rama?
(a) A healthy dose of caution.
(b) A mixture of elation and anxiety.
(c) A sense of danger and surprise.
(d) Filled with trepedation.

11. 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 Jupiter's moons.
(c) One of Saturn's rings.
(d) The mysterious object that became known as Rama.

12. How many wives does Commander Norton have?
(a) Three.
(b) One.
(c) None.
(d) Two.

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

14. What ships can catch up with Rama before it leaves the solar system?
(a) The Calypso, Beagle, and Challenger.
(b) Only the Challenger.
(c) The Calypso, Beagle, and Endeavour.
(d) Only the Endeavour.

15. In Chapter 11, what is identified as a psychological problem that may arise for the explorers?
(a) The fluctuation of gravitational force.
(b) Darkness.
(c) The path of Rama, which is very close to the Sun.
(d) The cold.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is Straight Valley?

2. What is the initial reaction of the human race to Rama?

3. For the Commander, Straight Valley reminds him of what part of his past?

4. What are the Calypso, Beagle, and Challenger waiting for?

5. What is the name of the author whose book inspired Dr. Stenton to become an astronomer?

(see the answer keys)

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