View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is Sita?

2. Why is a cloud of vapor sent toward Rama?

3. Who are the first three explorers on Rama?

4. In Chapter 5, what streams from the newly-opened pillbox "like dazzling diamonds as the brilliant sunlight caught them"?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. What did Dr. Stenton discover about Rama after he processed the results from viewing the asteroid with a big orbiting telescope?

2. The Rama Committed is concerned about an ominous possibility that they consider to be likely. What is it?

3. Why is Commander Norton concerned about how Boris Rodrigo may react after disembarking to explore Rama?

4. Name two things that concerned Commander Norton about landing on Rama.

5. What was the most mysterious characteristic of the object known as 31/439?

6. Describe the devastation that occurred on September 11, 2077.

7. What was the initial response to the catastrophic destruction of 2077?

8. What precautions are taken to ensure the exploration party will be safe on Rama?

9. When do objects like 31/439 obtain a name?

10. According to Chapter 4, what unusual action was taken so that Rama could intercept Rama?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The entire world of Rama is ostensibly created by beings that the explorers never meet, but based on the world they explored, the crew of the Endeavour, the officials, and the rest of the humanity make guesses and assumptions about what Ramans are or would be like. Describe your idea of what Ramans are like--their physical appearance, culture, and way of thinking. Back up your ideas with facts from the book.

Essay Topic 2

The Fifth Church of Christ is mentioned several times in the novel. The belief system is both respected and disrespected in the book. Part One: Pick two examples of respect for religion and two examples of disrespect for religion; compare and contrast them. Part Two: Explain if these positions on religion are equally balanced or if the author comes down more heavily on one side or the other, and how that contributes to the meaning of the story.

Essay Topic 3

There is much emphasis on ecology, recycling, degradation of the environment, and the creation of pollutants on Rama because it is a closed system. At the time the book was written the recycling movement was in its infancy in the United States and Europe. How might this book reflect the point of view of the author and his contemporaries about recycling and ecology? What are the positive and negative aspects of ecology and recycling as symbolized by the environment on Rama?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,086 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample