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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. How does the Mule react when he learns he has been outwitted?

2. Why does Anthor want Dr. Darell and his colleagues to scan their minds in 7-9?

3. Who does the Mule send to accompany Prichard's final mission?

4. What does Pritchard say the Second Foundation needs when confronting Channis?

5. Toward the end of 1-3, what does the technician tell Channis he has discovered on board the ship?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Dr. Darell scold Arcadia when he enters her room at the beginning of 7-9?

2. How does Channis describe the people of Rossem?

3. Why does Anthor want everyone at the meeting in 7-9 to get their brains scanned?

4. Why does the Mule choose Channis to accompany Pritcher on the assignment of finding the Second Foundation?

5. What do Dr. Darell and Anthor do for the week after Anthor's arrival? How does this help with Anthor's disguise?

6. In 4-6, how does the Mule know that Channis is a Second Foundationer?

7. How has Arcadia kept herself busy since Anthor's arrival?

8. Why does Pritchard pull a gun on Channis? What are his reasons for accusing Channis of this crime?

9. What does Anthor ask Dr. Darell as they descend downstairs in 7-9? What is Dr. Darell's reaction?

10. What reasons does the Mule give for believing that the Second Foundation was not on Tazenda judging by Channis' reactions?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Asimov presents the organizations and characters in the novel in an ambiguous nature, not defining if something is officially good or bad. Please respond to the following with supporting examples from the book:

1) How does the author present an ambiguous viewpoint of the "Second Foundation?"

2) Why is the character development of Dr. Darell an example of Asimov's lack of clearly defining motives and beliefs?

3) What is Asimov's purpose in maintaining an ambiguous stance in "Second Foundation"? Does it allow the reader to make his own decisions?

Essay Topic 2

With family members, political rulers and even one's own mind being controlled by powerful forces, paranoia plays a powerful role in the novel. Respond to the following with supporting details from "Second Foundation."

1) In what ways does the character of Pritcher exhibit extreme paranoia?

2) What are the reasons that the characters in the book are paranoid? Does the author validate these reasons by the end of the novel?

3) How does the author use a reader's real life concern about mind control to underscore the paranoia in the book?

Essay Topic 3

The Second Foundation is a powerful yet hidden organization that the title of the book is derived from. Please respond to the following with supporting examples from the novel:

1) How does the author represent the magnitude of influence the Second Foundation has on the galaxy?

2) Why does the Second Foundation's status of hidden and secret add to its power and influence?

3) Is the Second Foundation represented as good or bad force? Why?

(see the answer keys)

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