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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. Who has made no attempt to contact the local primitives?

2. What does Nikolai do when he meets his wife's clone?

3. How many years do the Investors think it will take humans to buy the secret of their starflight?

4. What do the Terrans want?

5. What is the only native animal life in the orbiting Mechanist colonies?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is so special about the discreets?

2. How does Nikolai come to find the central question of the universe? What is the central question?

3. What does Dr. Afriel say about humanity?

4. How is the killing of the people originally justified?

5. For what reason does the Mechanist woman propose marriage?

6. Why is winter the season for pruning the sunken gardens?

7. What makes it clear that the Investors hadn't intended to trade their pet?

8. What has Landau been waiting for, and why did he have to wait?

9. What interesting information does Lindsay find out about Wellspring?

10. How has Spider Rose's pet helped her overcome issues?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss Nora's commitment to the Mavride clan. How is this commitment different than anyone on Earth's commitment to their family? How is it similar? What are some of the drawbacks to this level of commitment?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss Lindsay's parting gift to Kitsune. How is this gift more than a little morbid and psychopathic? How could it backfire on Lindsay? What is the problem with giving a being that is hungry for power more and more of it?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the Swarm's offer of immortality. How is this offer hard to refuse? What are some potential consequences of immortality? Why must this offer be closely weighed? Would it be an offer you would take, in Dr. Afriel's position? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 743 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample