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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 is Pritcher's immediate reaction upon first meeting Channis?

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

3. Why does Pritchard pull out his weapon in 4-6?

4. What does the First Speaker condition the Mule's mind to believe?

5. According to the Rossem elders, with what does Tazenda provide Rossem?

Short Essay Questions

1. In 7-9, what reasons does Arcadia give that she has knowledge that her father is expecting a visitor?

2. What is the history of Han Pritcher and how does this character remember his past?

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

4. Why did the Seldon Plan fail as described by the author?

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

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

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

8. How does the opening of "Second Foundation" help the reader understand events that have occurred earlier in the trilogy?

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

10. What difference in time do the events in 7-9 take place after 4-6 and how is this shown by the characters?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Isaac Asimov has had substantial influence in the modern world due to his widely known written works of both nonfiction and fiction. Please respond to the following with supporting facts:

1) How did Asimov's childhood influence his career choice?

2) How did Asimov's career as a science professor influence his choice to write science fiction?

3) What examples of Asimov's beliefs are evident in "Second Foundation"?

Essay Topic 2

Arcadia Darell plays a pivotal role in the events of the novel, yet she is only a 14 year old girl. Please respond to the following with support from "Second Foundation."

1) What attributes does Asimov give Arcadia that represent adolescence in a positive way?

2) What attributes does Asimov give Arcadia that represent adolescence in a negative way?

3) What is Asimov saying about the ability of teenagers to influence society and their community as illustrated in the novel?

Essay Topic 3

Powerful forces in the fictional society of "Second Foundation" are able to influence and even control the minds of humans. Respond to the following with supporting evidence from the novel:

1) In the novel, what level of difficulty is the ability to control a person's mind? How easily influenced are people by the Mule or the Second Foundation?

2) How does the author portray that certainty a person can have about someone's mind being control? How about the certainty of a person's own mind being controlled?

3) What is the difference between the controlling powers of the Mule versus the powers of the Second Foundation?

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