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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 dangerous to a positronic brain?

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

3. What does Dr. Fastolfe tell Daneel to tell Lije?

4. Who pushes the person into the fission chamber?

5. About what does Lije press Daneel?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How has the murder of R. Sammy changed the relationship between Lije and R. Daneel?

3. How does Dr. Gerrigel demonstrate the first law of robotics and at the same time prove once and for all R. Daneel's innocence?

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

5. What does the visit to Yeast town demonstrate?

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

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

The laws of robotics are discussed in a number of chapters. Discuss the following:

1. Explain in your own words the three laws of robotics and why they probably exist.

2. Can you think of any other laws of robotics that should be in place? Explain.

3. If you had a robot employee or servant, would you want it to merely respond to commands with no emotions or would you like it endowed with artificial intelligence so that it could think at some level? Explain your preference.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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