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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 the slogan of T.R.'s truck stops?

2. What kind of presentation do Laks and the others have to watch once they get to the Line of Actual Control?

3. Whats is Laks' real first name?

4. What political movement does Saskia worry that Michiel is a part of?

5. Who does T.R. hire that comes and lives out where Rufus lives?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Laks politely asked to leave the first akhara he joins?

2. Why do Laks' parents want him to go to India?

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

4. On the train out to West Texas, How does Sylvester explain the rise of sand piracy around his country?

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

6. What does Rufus attempt as his initial profession after coming out of the army?

7. In the chapter titled "The Storm," how does a sulfur launch site in Papua seem like an opportunity to Sister Catherine?

8. In the chapter titled "Pina2bo," why is it difficult for Alastair to know what all the side effects of Pina2bo's operation?

9. How do Saskia and Ruud handle the Pina2bo problem in regard to Saskia's budget day speech?

10. How is Rufus connected to the Comanche tribe?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The author brings in technology in different ways throughout the book. Do you think the author is trying to say something specific about technology or begin a conversation around the pros and cons of technology? How does technology affect the characters in the story in positive ways and negative ways? When answering this question, Consider the falconers' eagles vs. the drones. Consider all of flying S being shut down because of an electro-magnetic pulse that fries the microchips that are essential to the operation of Pina2bo and Flying S Ranch. Consider that the eagles would not be effective against the drones without their gauntlets that Rufus makes with an advanced 3D printer.

Essay Topic 2

Do you think this book is close to reality? Do you think climate problems will get this bad in the future? Do you think a solution will only come about from a real live version of T.R.? Who is a T.R. equivalent in real life? Do you trust that person with the global climate? What is the alternative?

Essay Topic 3

The author brings in Native American history and culture throughout the book, particularly Comanche culture and the idea that Comanche culture is not about DNA but about embodying the tenets of the Comanche mentality and way of life. Why does the author bring this up? How is it related to the rest of the story? When answering this question, consider the ideas around performative war, political control, China's and India's agendas in the book, and how they each go about accomplishing their respective agendas.

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