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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 is T.R.'s real purpose for meeting Rufus in the chapter titled "South Texas"?

2. In what city in the Netherlands does Willem live?

3. Whats is Laks' real first name?

4. What is the Maasvlakte?

5. What does Rufus name the first horse that he lures back to his living location at Flying S Ranch?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is Rufus connected to the Comanche tribe?

2. How does Martijn van Dyck manipulate Saskia's words to his political advantage?

3. On the train ride out to West Texas, how does Rufus explain to Alastair that Comanches "won" the war in the larger sense?

4. Why is Rufus driving alongside the Waco airfield in his truck?

5. How is it that there is fighting but no guns at the Line of Actual Control?

6. In the chapter titled "The Barracks," How does Laks' fighting crew trap Lan Lu's crew to secure the main levels of the barracks?

7. What does norMal mean in the Dutch royal context?

8. In the chapter titled "The Hague," what are the complications of launching sulfur as Alastair explains it?

9. Why does Rufus call Beau Boskey?

10. What is Laks' newfound purpose?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In what ways does Laks fail in his mission? In what ways does Laks succeed in his mission? Why does the author have Laks die at the end? Would it have been as meaningful if Rufus stops him but Laks lives? Do you think there is something the author is trying to say about what it takes for humans to finally listen to a message that they do not want to hear? Consider T.R. and his stubborn attitude. Would he be as willing to listen to Mohinder Singh if Laks does not die?

Essay Topic 2

What do you think the author is trying to say in creating T.R. to be the type of man that he is? Consider how T.R. makes his billions. Consider his approach to geoengineering and the politics of affecting the whole world when he starts operating Pina2bo. Does he consult with any countries that are likely to be pissed at him? What do you think the author is saying by showing that governments are unable to effectively solve their problems and cooperate? Consider the Venetians' complaint about the MOSE project or the way that the Maeslantkering fails.

Essay Topic 3

At the beginning and throughout the book, what is the conversation around geoengineering? Why are some people in favor of it, some people against it and some people skeptical about it? What are the climatological circumstances that the author presents that make geoengineering complicated for countries like China and India?

(see the answer keys)

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