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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. For what does the man whom the characters meet in the desert want to trade?

2. Who greets the explorers when they land?

3. The explorers conclude what about the machinery of the flat planet?

4. What special property does the flying carpet have?

5. What are the real motives of the man whom the characters meet in the desert?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Kin arrested?

2. How are the explorers greeted when they reach the sailors' homeland?

3. What happens to Silver as she and the others near the hub?

4. What does the group do with the winged demon?

5. What do Kin and Marco resolve to do until Shand proteins can be found for Silver?

6. How do Kin's feelings about the Company begin to change soon after the dumbwaiter is destroyed?

7. How does Kin escape after the man whom she and the others meet in the desert turns on them?

8. What do the explorers come to believe about the machinery of the planet?

9. Whom do Kin and the others meet in the desert? What is the result of this meeting?

10. What do the locals intend to do with Kin, and how is this prevented?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Exploration is a major theme of the novel. Alongside creation, it is presented as one of the defining characteristics of intelligence species. Exploration initiates and ends the story.

Part 1) Outline the importance of exploration in the novel. In what ways does it affect the storyline?

Part 2) Which characters are affected by the drive for exploration? Does it have a positive or negative impact on them?

Part 3) How is the drive for exploration presented as an important feature of intelligent life?

Part 4) How does exploration in this story relate to the concept of creation?

Essay Topic 2

There are many examples of characters attempting and succeeding in taking revenge in this novel. It is a major theme that causes important changes within characters and drives the plot forward at important points.

Part 1) Which characters attempt or succeed in taking revenge in the novel? What are their motivations? Are they justified in their intentions?

Part 2) How do these actions affect and change these characters? Do they come to regret their actions?

Part 3) What can be said about the overall impact of the desire for revenge in the novel? In general, is it helpful or destructive? If one or more cases are exceptions to this general rule, explain their nature and importance.

Essay Topic 3

After they crash on the flat planet, Kin and the others interact with its inhabitants in many places and in many different ways. These people, as rough analogues of real historical cultures, serve to illustrate various points that the author wishes to make about those civilizations.

Part 1) Describe the first meeting between the inhabitants of the flat planet and Kin and her companions. What are the results of this exchange? What impression do Kin and the other take away from this experience?

Part 2) Explain the other interactions the explorers have with the locals. How do these compare with their first interactions? Explain ways that the explorer's perceptions of the locals change as a result of later encounters.

Part 3) What impact do the explorers have on the local populations? Explain both immediate and long lasting effects.

(see the answer keys)

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