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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 happens when Daneel and Lije rise from their table?

2. What were the Spacers able to do with Lije?

3. Why is Vincent Barrett a suspect in the death of R. Sammy?

4. How does Clousarr act towards Lije?

5. What does Francis Clousarr do?

Short Essay Questions

1. When Daneel and Lije return to their apartment, what horrifies does Daneel do that horrifies Lije? Would you feel the same way

2. What does the visit to Yeast town demonstrate?

3. Compare the relationship of Enderby and Lije with that of Lije and Daneel at the conclusion of the novel.

4. How has Lije's knowledge of robotics grown enough that he is able to use that knowledge to get Daneel's cooperation?

5. How is a conflict between Lije's professional and personal life demonstrated in this chapter and how does Lije handle it?

6. How does a section kitchen work and what is the implication of such a setup?

7. How does THE CAVES OF STEEL reach its climax and subsequent denouement?

8. Why do you think R. Daneel reveals his vulnerabilities to Lije?

9. Do you think Clousarr is an evil character?

10. Who does Lije call in Washington, D.C. and why does Lije call the man?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

When Lije first enters Spacetown, he states that he has solved the case and believes Dr. Sarton is still alive and points to Daneel. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think Lije's reasoning is sound for coming to the conclusion he does?

2. What does it say about Enderby that he is laughing hysterically at Lije?

3. Would you have been as willing to look foolish and make such a proclamation? Why or why not?

4. Was Lije a bit premature in his claim?

Essay Topic 2

Issac Asimov is one of the most prolific writers, both science fiction and other genres, including acadmic, of his time. It is useful to know about him not just because he authored THE CAVES OF STEEL, but because his authorial life is quite astounding. Discuss the following:

1. Research Asimov and write a brief biography of Asimov.

2. What do you find to be most impressive about the man?

3. What do you think is Asimov's greatest accomplishment?

4. If you were told that you had to write 900 or so books and other works, how would you respond?

Essay Topic 3

We eventually learn that the Spacers set up Lije as an experiment to see if human beings could be made to live in peaceful co-existence with robots. They inject Lije with a drug that eventually makes Lije defend robots. Discuss the following:

1. Was it ethical to inject Lije without his permission?

2. If an Earthman has to be injected with a drug to make them accept robots, then how do you think the Spacers could pull off drugging all, or even a small portion of the 50 billion humans on Earth?

3. If there were a way to drug someone to gain his/her cooperation or to change their minds about something, do you think the government of the United States would use such a drug? Why or why not.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,492 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample