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

Short Answer Questions

1. During the initial exploration of Rama, what is the temperature like?

2. According to Chapter 9, Rama's orbit is heading directly to where?

3. What is Camp Alpha?

4. What is Straight Valley?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. Is Professor Davidson interested in finding out more about Rama?

2. What do the members of the Rama Committee think of Commander Norton?

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

4. Why did Commander Norton feel a kinship with a long-dead Egyptologist?

5. Describe the theories put forth to the Rama Committee about the age of Rama.

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

7. Compare and contrast the substance found at the bottom of the Straight Valley and the Cylindrical Sea.

8. What is cocooning or mothballing, as referred to in Chapter 14?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

When exploring a new land, familiar names of locations are comforting to the explorers. This book is filled with locations on extraterrestrial planets and on Rama that are named for locations we are familiar with on Earth. How does the use of these locations influence the reader? Compare and contrast three of these locations and explain how the usage of these locations contributes to the reader's understanding.

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

Compare and contrast the expectations that the Rama Committee has for the origins, age, and findings for Rama versus the reality. How are they the same? How are they different?

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