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

2. What isn't an alteration to the Captain-Doctor's body?

3. What does she have that the Investors want?

4. What is the first thing the immortal rat does following its release?

5. How does Nikolai's wife die?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What had Pongpianskul attempted to do, and failed?

3. Why isn't intelligence a survival trait?

4. What does the book refer to in Chapter Nine regarding the strain on humanity?

5. Why do the Cicadas need to bathe but Lindsay does not?

6. Why is the name "Fuzzy" a private joke?

7. What is Dr. Afriel's mission?

8. What is so special about the discreets?

9. What does Dr. Afriel say about humanity?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the Investors and the unity that formed against them. How is this unity rallied and agreed upon? What is the catalyst, and how is this evident to the reader? What would be required for the Investors to become the primary political force? Would this occur? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the political system on Dembowska. How is it easily misinterpreted by outsiders? Are they totally wrong in their assumptions? Why or why not? Explain whether or not this political system has an advantage over political systems on Earth.

Essay Topic 3

In essay form, discuss the following excerpt: "He wept quietly, holding nothing back. He mourned mankind, and the blindness of men, who thought that the Kosmos had rules and limits that would shelter them from their own freedom. There were no shelters. There were no final purposes. Futility and freedom, were Absolute." What does this quote mean to you?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 852 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample