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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 does Gladia do when she finds her husband?

2. What weapon is found in the house where the human is murdered?

3. In what state does Gladia find her husband?

4. How many Outer Worlds are there?

5. Who is Albert Minnim?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Daneel tell Elijah about Solaria, and what is Elijah's response?

2. Who meets Elijah at Solaria and what does he realize from the meeting?

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

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

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

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

7. How is the Earth encased, and how does that make Elijah feel?

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

9. How are the farming and mining areas set apart from other Earth space?

10. What is Baley's response to his orders?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

Essay Topic 2

Solaria has a huge population of robots that outnumber human beings ten thousand to one; whereas the ration of human beings to robots on earth is much less, with human beings outnumbering robots.

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?

4. What are the advantages and disadvantages with the prolific use of robots on Solaria?

Essay Topic 3

The Naked Sun is written in the genre of science fiction. Discuss the following:

1. What sets science fiction apart from other genres? Discuss several characteristics of science fiction that are absent in other genres and vice versa.

2. Some people might say that science fiction is merely for entertainment? Do you agree? Explain.

3. Discuss why The Naked Sun falls under the genre of science fiction.

4. Why do you think literary criticism breaks down fiction into genres? Do you think the labeling of genre to a work is useful to a reader? Why or why not.

(see the answer keys)

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