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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 long did it take for spacecraft to visit Solaris after its discovery?

2. What does Snow tell Kelvin when he asks about Sartorius?

3. How does Kelvin recognize Snow?

4. What does Snow have on his hands?

5. What does most of the panel interviewing Berton think of his story?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Kelvin launch the shuttle?

2. What does Kelvin do before removing his spacesuit?

3. Is Kelvin on time for his meeting with Snow?

4. Explain the term "no appreciable relation to reality" as the president of the committee uses it to describe Berton's report.

5. What does Snow say that mankind is seeking in outer space?

6. What is Gibarian's reaction to the eerie sound of footsteps echoing through the station?

7. What reason does Kelvin give for his suggestion about the physical composition of the visitors?

8. Describe the view of Solaris that Kelvin first sees from his room.

9. Why does Kelvin take the Historia Solaris down from the bookshelf?

10. Why does Kelvin blame himself for Rheya's death?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Throughout the novel Solaris, the ocean is depicted as a mirror that shows humanity, on some level, only a reflection of itself, perhaps without even realizing it.

1) Is it possible that Solaris has no real consciousness but is a kind of machine that throws back to the scientists images of their own minds?

2) Is humanity incapable of seeing in Solaris anything but itself, no matter what the truth of Solaris' consciousness may be?

3) Does Solaris show the scientists at any point anything beyond what's in their own minds?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss Andre Berton's experiences on Solaris.

1) What are the meanings and implications of what Andre Berton saw? What do they tell us about Solaris' oceans?

2) How are Andre Berton's experiences related to the experiences of the scientists on the research station? Compare and contrast those experiences.

3) Why did the panel disbelieve and suppress Berton's reports of the instance on Solaris? What does this say about the failures of science?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the significance of the setup and layout of the space station setting.

1) The space station when Kelvin arrives is in complete disarray. Discuss the reasons for and significance of the state of the research station.

2) The library is an important element of the story, and a place Kelvin goes when he needs to escape. Discuss the significance of the library and how the author utilizes it in the story.

3) Kelvin's room looks out over Solaris' ocean and is the first place that Rheya appears to Kelvin. Discuss the significance and role of Kelvin's room and its view of the ocean.

(see the answer keys)

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