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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. Under what stipulation will Lije and Daneel agree not to prosecute Enderby?

2. Who asks Lije about the call he made to Washington D.C. to Dr. Gerrigel, a roboticist specialist?

3. Of what does Daneel assure Lije?

4. Of what is Jessie fearful as the meetings became more heated?

5. For what does Dr. Gerrigel use his Handbook of Robotics?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How do you think Lije's prejudice towards robots hinders his murder investigation?

3. How does the conversation between Lije and Clousarr show Lije's changing opinions of robots?

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

5. What childhood story makes Lije re-think Enderby as the murder suspect and why do you think Lije makes the connection between the story and Enderby?

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

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

8. How is R. Daneel able to assure Lije of Enderby's innocence and does Daneel's explanation seem plausible?

9. Why can't Daneel use cerebroanalysis to find the murderer?

10. What is the explanation that Dr. Gerrigel offers for the physical appearance of robots. Does this explanation seem plausible to you?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Bentley, Lije's son, is against the idea of robots, which may be a reflection not only of how he has been raised in their household but also of how his friends and teachers perceive the situation. Discuss one of the following:

1. Answer the following questions: How influential do you think Bentley's peers are on his opinions? How influential are Jesse's associates in the Medievalist group on her thinking? How about how influential are Lije's colleagues on his thinking?

2. A book called Freakonomics, suggests that peers have the greatest influence on how a child turns out--even more so than parents, teachers, or other adults. Discuss your thoughts about this idea.

3. If Freakonomics is correct and peers have the most influence on the way a child turns out as an adult, how do you think that should influence a parent's interaction and supervision of his/her child? Go into detail with examples.

Essay Topic 2

THE CAVES OF STEEL is written in the genre of science fiction. Discuss the following:

1. What sets science fiction apart from other genres?

2. Some people might say that science fiction is merely for entertainment? Do you agree or not? Explain.

3. Discuss why THE CAVES OF STEEL falls under the genre of science fiction.

Essay Topic 3

There are a number of examples in the book where it is obvious that human society is more strictly regulated and structured in the time of THE CAVES OF STEEL than at the present time in the United States. Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze the way the world of THE CAVES OF STEEL is structured and regulated. Evaluate its effectiveness and its problems.

2. Compare/contrast the society in which Lije lives versus an average American today.

3. Are there countries that are as tightly controlled in the "real" world as that in THE CAVES OF STEEL? Compare the two.

(see the answer keys)

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