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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 do the Rossem elders describe Tazenda?

2. What charge by Pritchard is placed against Channis for being treasonous?

3. What reason does Arcadia give to know that her father was expecting a visitor?

4. Who is decided to be sent to Kalgan at the end of 7-9?

5. As recounted in 1-3, who almost told the Mule the location of the Second Foundation five years before?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are Channis' reasons for telling Pritchard that his mind has been tampered with by the Second Foundation in 4-6? Why would the Second Foundation leave Pritchard's feeling of loyalty?

2. What is Arcadia's reaction when she sees the man at her window?

3. How do the Rossem elders react to the arrival of Pritchard and Channis?

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

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

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

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

8. Who is the leader of the Galaxy and how did this leader rise to power?

9. How does the Mule admit defeat? What happens after the Mule's defeat?

10. When Pritchard grows fearful and begins to think about his life before the Mule conditioned his mind, how does he react?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

During the 1940s and 1950s, both the United Sates and the USSR struggled to achieve dominance in their area of the globe. Asimov uses this scuffle for power as inspiration for the novel. Respond to the following with supporting examples from the book:

1) How does Asimov parallel the dominance of the Mule with that of the USSR?

2) Why do the geographic locations of the Foundation and the Mule mimic that of the United States and the USSR?

3) What is Asimov's purpose in making comparisons to that point in history with his novel?

Essay Topic 2

It is difficult to define a standout hero or villain in "Second Foundation" because the author does not present such a figure to the reader. Please respond to the following with supporting evidence from the story:

1) What character is the most like a hero in the story? What happens at the end of the novel to make the reader think otherwise?

2) The Mule is presented to be a villain. His motivation to further the Seldon Plan is one of the few representations of a valid motive in the story. What is the author saying about societies' views on misunderstanding other people?

3) How is the Second Foundation simultaneously represented as a protagonist and antagonist in the book?

Essay Topic 3

Asimov is a leading author in the literary genre of science fiction and his novel "Second Foundation" is an example of his work that fits into this category. Respond to the following with supporting examples from the story:

1) How does the setting of the novel reflect elements of science fiction?

2) How does the technology featured in the novel reflect attributes of science fiction?

3) In what ways does science fiction allow Asimov to write about events featured in "Second Foundation"?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 875 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample