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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 upgrade does this give him?

2. What has killed the Queen?

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

4. To whom is T-K crucial?

5. What would this creature have missed if it would have had to absorb Dr. Afriel?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is unique about "Fuzzy"?

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

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

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

5. What does Nikolai do in order to upset the Mechanist?

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

7. Why does Nikolai retire and commit suicide?

8. What does Dr. Mirny tell Dr. Afriel about the Swarm and what he can hope to gain from them?

9. What is Lindsay convinced about, regardless of what Vera says, in terms of the rat?

10. What is so special about the discreets?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Discuss Dr. Mirny's interpretation of the Swarm. How does she see them? Is this analysis accurate? Suggest reasons why the intelligent caste of the swarm takes over what was once its best ally. Is this a sound and logical move or one made out of emotion? Justify your answer.

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 810 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample