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. Who seems to be the most concerned that Rama's secret mission is to dominate the solar system?

2. When exploring the first city, to simplify the task, only what percentage is to be examined?

3. Who wants to examine the spider-like creature?

4. What word can be used to describe the spider-like creature that the explorers encounter while watching the evening news?

5. According to Chapter 37, Mercury sends a missile to Rama, which stops fifty kilometers from Rama to do what?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the first creature that is encountered on Rama.

2. How does Commander Norton feel about Boris Rodrigo's request to send a priority message to the Mother Church?

3. Explain the differences Jimmy Pak observed in the southern and northern ends of Rama.

4. Why does Jerry Kirchoff make facetious comments to Norton and Rousseau in Chapters 36 and 37?

5. Why is it the case that some planets in the solar system are not represented in the United Planets?

6. What are some of the ways the Commander considered to travel to the South Pole?

7. Why are Hermians compared to Spartans?

8. Why is "Dragonfly" a good name for Jimmy Pak's sky-bike?

9. Why does the exobiologist, Dr. Perera, feel mortified at the beginning of Chapter 19?

10. How is it possible that the spider-like creature sneaks up on Norton, Rodrigo, Calvert, and Ernst while they are watching the evening news telecast?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There are several references in the novel to "ancient" history from the twentieth century and before. Name five different references to ancient history and explain their contribution to the meaning of the story. Why is the author choosing to write about these particular historical events, facts, characters, or customs?

Essay Topic 2

Women appear to be a minority on the Endeavour. Only two women play substantive roles in the novel. Who are these two women and what are their accomplishments and/or shortcomings? Are they fully-formed characters or two-dimensional? Are they stereotypical or play against type? Compare and contrast them to two of the main characters who are male. Based on your analysis, what is the author saying about gender roles? Consider gender roles in the late twentieth century when the book was written as well as the author's apparent predictions for the future.

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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,008 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample