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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. What do Alvin's followers do to Josh?

2. What film is being shown at the opening of Chapter 6?

3. What is Josh Hutchins' nickname?

4. What does Leona do to buy more time for Josh and Swan?

5. In the dream walk that Sister experiences after talking with Doyle, what does she pick up?

Short Essay Questions

1. What new power does Swan exhibit for the first time while Josh digs out from PawPaw's shelter?

2. Describe the game that Alvin and his followers force Josh to play.

3. What happens to the leadership of the American government shortly after the nuclear attacks begin?

4. What are Macklin's first actions as the new ruler of the Salt Lake settlement?

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

6. What does Doyle do to the members of Sister's group and why?

7. Describe Sister Creep's reaction when she emerges from the subway tunnels.

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

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

10. How do Roland, Macklin, and Sheila acquire a place to stay in the Salt Lake settlement?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

At the beginning of the novel, the threat of nuclear war looms over the characters. The tensions between the United States and Russia are at an all-time high, and nuclear attacks could start at any minute. The characters live in fear and don't know how to deal with the enormity of the threat.

1) Explain the diplomatic situation at the beginning of the novel that puts the United States and Russia at the brink of nuclear war.

2) Discuss some of the reactions various people have to this threat. Explain the range of reactions, and discuss how rational or reactionary these behaviors are.

3) Discuss how reasonable and believable these reactions are, and speculate as to what some other reactions might be.

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Hope is an integral part of the will to survive that is essential to so many characters in the novel. It gives many characters strength and a reason to stay alive. When Swan gives the community of Mary's Rest new reason to hope, the entire community comes to life and organizes to improve itself and stand against the invading Army of Excellence.

1) Describe some ways that characters or groups maintain hope, including mantras, rituals, and beliefs.

2) Discuss some of the consequences for people or groups who give up hope.

3) Explain how Swan is able to restore hope to Mary's Rest and what the impact of that gift is to the community.

4) Summarize how hope affects the survivors, how it is cultivated and maintained, and how it can be spread.

(see the answer keys)

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