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. What did Daneel detect in Clousarr?

2. With what group does Jesse re-involve herself?

3. How does Lije consider Daneel at the end of the book?

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

5. Where do Daneel and Lije go?

Short Essay Questions

1. Discuss the game Lije played in his earlier days and how it figures in to his sense of competitiveness with R. Daneel?

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

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

4. How does Lije react to Bentley showing up at the apartment and what does this say about the relationship between Lije and Jesse?

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

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

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

8. Does Lije seem to be finally thinking more clearly and to what might you attribute that?

9. What does Lije propose and how does Dr. Gerrigel refute Lije's theory?

10. Do you think Lije and Enderby's relationship has changed and how so?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Besides the fact that robots are taking some of the jobs from the Earth people, many miss the fact that Human interaction is lost and efficiency overrules personal assistance. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think the people of Earth prefer human assistance?

2. How similar is their revolt to many people in our culture who complain about trying to call a company and getting a voice instructing them to push numbers?

3. Do you think there will be a time when robots do all the work for human beings? What do you think will be gained by that? What will be lost?

Essay Topic 2

When Daneel shares the information that gamma radiation can kill him, Lije is surprised. No Earthman is aware of this because Spacetown does not want humans knowing a robot's vulnerabilities, especially because of their plans for infiltration. Daneel only tells Lije because they are partners and believes it is necessary to know each others' strengths and weaknesses. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think R. Daneel is capable of feeling trust (and/or mistrust)? Why or why not.

2. Is it wise of R. Daneel to reveal a serious weakness to a human, especially one who has a wife who is hostile to robots.

3. What can R. Daneel gain by revealing this weakness? Is R. Daneel capable of knowing intuitively that he needs to offer his trust to Lije?

4. Is it possible that R. Daneel is becoming more than what he was created to do? Is this one of the dangers of artificial intelligence?

Essay Topic 3

When Lije finally enters Spacetown he is disturbed by the feeling of wind and breathing in of real air. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think Lije finds fresh air and wind disturbing? How would you feel about it if you did not experience it very often?

2. Lije does not even recognize an apple as food because his food is made mostly of yeast substances. Would you feel the quality of life is worthwhile in such a place?

3. How likely is it that in a few hundred years, Earth will be living in the manner suggested in THE CAVES OF STEEL?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,565 words (approx. 6 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample