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. When he tries to stop at PawPaw's store, Josh Hutchin's car passes through which of the following?

2. What destroys the President's plane?

3. What does Macklin discover when he is called away by Perimeter Control?

4. According to the doctor at the Red Cross station in Homewood, about how many people (by percentage) have black scabs on their faces like Sister does?

5. What do Josh and Swan discover that they believe might lead them to the surface?

Short Essay Questions

1. What special powers does the glass ring exhibit as Sister and her group begin to use it?

2. What happens to Roland's parents during the fighting in Earth House?

3. What unusual sight does Josh witness as he and Swan continue to search for a way out of PawPaw's shelter?

4. How does Sister Creep react to seeing the Spanish woman's dead child?

5. How does Swan's group react to seeing the lit K-mart?

6. What is the state of the survivors in PawPaw's shelter at the end of Chapter 17?

7. Why does Sister "Creep" get into a fight in Chapter 2?

8. Describe the problem that occurs at Earth House just after the nuclear attacks begin.

9. What happens at PawPaw's store when the nuclear attacks begin?

10. What is the strategy of the United States to prevent further advances by the USSR?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Macklin is a troubled and deeply flawed man.

1) Describe Macklin's background and personality.

2) Explain Macklin's relationship with and dependency on the Shadow Soldier.

3) Discuss how and why Macklin feels guilt for his actions and how he is able to overcome this guilt.

4) Explain why Macklin experiences a moral shift near the end of the novel and turns against Roland and Friend.

Essay Topic 2

Robin and Swan are close in age and are immediately attracted to each other when they meet. For his part, Robin believes Swan to be the most beautiful girl he has ever seen. He falls in love with her at first sight. Although they know they have feelings for each other, they have difficulty expressing them, since they are adolescents and have had little social grooming.

1) Describe the similarities and differences between Swan and Robin. They are both leaders. How do their leadership styles differ?

2) Discuss why Robin and Swan are drawn to each other and why they have difficulties expressing themselves.

3) Explain how Robin and Swan grow closer and eventually confess their feelings.

Essay Topic 3

Macklin forms the Army of Excellence in order to expand his power and satisfy the depraved urges of the Shadow Soldier for blood and destruction. The Army is relatively successful under Macklin's command. It defeats many other armies and lays waste to Mary's Rest, nearly destroying everything that Swan and the other protagonists have worked for.

1) Explain how the Army of Excellence is formed, how it is commanded, organized, and run.

2) Describe the goals of the army and how is goes about achieving them.

3) Discuss the moral character of the army as a whole. What evil or unsavory acts does it condone? In what evil acts does it engage? What is Macklin's influence on these acts?

4) Summarize the effectiveness and success of the army, citing specific examples given in the book.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 908 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample