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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. Concerned that Erick's ship may not have made the jump safely, where does Syrinx travel to?

2. Which of the following is Samuel?

3. Where does Joshua set a course for after helping Lambert to program the vector?

4. Who manages to make his way to the asteroid Koblat, hoping to find a ship there that will take him to Valisk?

5. Where is the house that Syrinx goes to after visiting the Kiint located?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is Joshua similar to Syrinx?

2. What is the significance of the inverted cross for Quinn?

3. What does Quinn's concept of religion encompass in terms of temples?

4. What happens when Joshua tries to exorcise a possessed man?

5. As the book opens, why is Mzu on the asteroid?

6. Why does Capone want the Alchemist?

7. Why is picking up Deadnight kids a good distraction for the hellhawks?

8. How does Mzu escape detection from Joshua when she is busy concocting her plans for revenge?

9. How do the younger generation of the Garissan refugees differ from the older one?

10. How is the landscape of Valisk like Rubra?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain Hamilton's use of humor in the book. Cite examples of at least two different instances of humor and explain why Hamilton used them where he did.

Essay Topic 2

Intuition has particular significance in "The Neutronium Alchemist Conflict." What is the significance of having intuition in the story? Who chases after intuition? Who has intuition? Who loses intuition? Who gains intuition? What does Hamilton ultimately say about intuition through the characters of Calvert and Mzu and what is the importance of this discovery and the characters' role?

Essay Topic 3

Psychic phenomena is another important theme of Hamilton's book. Where and how are these phenomena revealed and in what ways? Do they change over time? Do they evoke certain emotions in characters and do they promote change or transformation?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 534 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample