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. What did the crew of the Envoy leave Michael?

2. Why does Ben want to meet secretly?

3. What does Jill think when Michael expresses his curiosity?

4. Who is Larry?

5. What does Duke brag about as far as Michael goes?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the book say about human behavior and reproduction?

2. What happens when Madame Alexandra Vesant tries to cast Michael's chart and what does she say?

3. What happens to Ben after he leaves the hospital?

4. Who went to Mars 25 years before the beginning of this book and what happened to them?

5. What is Michael curious about after watching the Fosterites on television and what does Jubal find out?

6. Who does Secretary General Douglas talk to about Michael being missing and why is he reluctant to do that?

7. What does Michael say about his ability to make things disappear?

8. What happens when the police come to Jubal's?

9. What does Duke brag about in relation to Michael and what does Jubal tell him?

10. What does Gillian decide to do at the hospital one day and how does she do it?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Michael's body has not developed the strength to cope with the higher gravity and air pressure on Earth.

1. Imagine you are moved to a planet which is larger than Earth and you could not move well or breath well. How would that feel? How would you cope with the problems?

2. One situation on Earth that could come close to Michael's physical situation when he first comes to Earth is someone who has been paralyzed in an accident. How do you think you would react to such a situation? Would you want to live in a wheelchair? Who would you turn to for help?

3. If you were put into a situation where it was difficult for you to move or breath one of your feelings might be powerlessness. How would you cope with feeling that way? Do you think you would be powerless in that situation? How would you feel if most of the actions we take for granted as whole bodied had to suddenly be done by someone else?

Essay Topic 2

Michael brings conflict to Mahmoud's Islamic faith, as he does to nearly every religion on Earth--except for some Eastern beliefs--astral projection and levitation for examples.

1. Why do you think Michael's existence or abilities would threaten religion? Use examples from the book and/or your own life to support your opinion.

2. Given the history of religion and "heretics" on this earth, what do you think will be the religious institutions' response to Michael? Use examples from the book and/or from history to support your answer.

3. Given Michael's scanty understanding of human society and religion, why do you think Jubal is concerned about him having contact with the Fosterites?

Essay Topic 3

Truth can be related to belief in this way, where the act of belief makes something true for most practical purposes. Mrs. Douglas believes in Madame Vesant, therefore what she says is truth to Mrs. Douglas.

1. How do you think beliefs and truth relate to each other? Use examples from the book and/or your own life to support your opinion.

2. Do you think if someone believes something strong enough it will become true? Why or why not? Use examples from the book and/or your life to support your opinion.

3. If someone believes something to be true do you think facts can change his/her belief? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,111 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample