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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 approximate population of Solaria?

2. How does Baley feel about going?

3. Who was in the room when the victim is killed?

4. Where is the victim's body?

5. What happens to the evidence in the murder case?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Gruer tell Elijah about the murder case?

2. What does Gladia ask Elijah about his and Daneel's proximity and what is Elijah's response?

3. Describe Elijah Baley.

4. What shocks Baley about his first communication with Gladia, and how does she explain the situation? What is Elijah's response?

5. Who is the Undersecretary and what does he order Baley to do and why?

6. Why do the authorities believe Gladia did not kill her husband and what does Gladia say when Elijah asks her if she did it?

7. How do people on the Outer Worlds view Earthmen?

8. Where is Elijah Baley at the opening of the novel and about what is he thinking?

9. What does Gladia tell Elijah about her relationship with her husband?

10. What does Gladia say about the murder of her husband?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Lije questions why robots need to appear in the form of human likeness, why not another machine? He also wonders why the authorities are wanting those on Solaria to think R. Daneel is a human being. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think the human form is the most generalized form in all of nature? Why or why not?

2. Do you think the human form is more economical and efficient for robots? Why or why not.

3. Even if the human form is more economical and efficient, why do you think R. Daneel is anatomically correct, even to his genitalia? Does that amount of exactitude serve a purpose? What would that be?

Essay Topic 2

The time this novel takes place about a millennium in the future. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think technology in "real life" will have advanced as far as it has in The Naked Sun in 1000 years? Do you think it will have advanced further? Explain thoroughly with examples.

2. What do you think are the difficulties of creating a setting far into the future? What are the advantages?

3. Many science fiction novels written in the early 20th century actually "predicts" some technology that is commonplace during the first decade of the 21st century. Research some early science fiction novels and discuss how much of the "pretend" technology is actually "real" now. How you think Napoleon Hill's belief that "what man can conceive and believe, man can achieve" can explain how technology in early science fiction is now a reality?

Essay Topic 3

It is immediately apparent that there is a conflict between human beings and robots. Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze the theme of man versus robots. How is this theme explored through the plot? Why do you think Asimov explores this theme so deeply?

2. Discuss how you think robots would change our culture today if they started performing most of the service occupations.

3. Do you think the fears about robots in The Naked Sun is justified? Explain fully.

(see the answer keys)

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