View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How does Pappa persuade the Lieutenant to overlook Arcadia's papers?

2. What question does Homir ask Arcadia when he recognizes her in 10-12?

3. In 13-15 why does Homir worry about his newly granted access to the Mule's palace?

4. Who is fighting in the war at the beginning of 16-18?

5. Why does Stettin say the treasury is struggling?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Dr. Darell caught in a no-win situation in 16-18?

2. What are Stettin's reasonings for going to war that he describes to Merius?

3. What is Callia's explanation for why no one is allowed to enter into the Mule's palace? Has Stettin entered the palace according to Callia?

4. Why does Dr. Darell think that his daughter is dead?

5. Why is Arcadia so excited to meet Lady Callia?

6. In 16-18, what does Dr. Darell want from Seimic? What is Seimic's response?

7. Why is Anthor upset that Arcadia has disappeared?

8. What two orders does Stettin send out after Callia manipulates him into thinking he has a chance to start an empire?

9. What does Callia do for Arcadia in her private chamber? What does Arcadia see as Callia flees the room?

10. How does Arcadia escape from being discovered after she is announced as a wanted fugitive?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

There is confusion throughout the novel on whether or not a character is acting upon their own free will or by the manipulations of a controlling force. Please respond to the following with supporting evidence from the story:

1) Arcadia is a rebellious teenager who acts upon her own desires and yet it is revealed that she has been under the influence of the Second Foundation since being a baby. Has her free will been her own or a part of the Second Foundation's conditioning?

2) How does Asimov use the character of the Lieutenant from Kalgan to prove that free will is a fallacy in the society of "Second Foundation"?

3) What is the author's purpose in portraying free will as something that might just be part of a larger influential control?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 906 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample