View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Where does Avery believe the blast that shattered the bobble originated?

2. At the tournament, who does Wili note has not been taken by the Authority?

3. What does Paul use for transportation?

4. What evidence causes the Authority to suspect the Tinkers possess an advanced technology?

5. Della explains that the Authority believes the Tinkers have achieved what advanced technology?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens to Jeremy as he, Wili, and Mike attempt to escape from the bioscience lab?

2. How did Wili's parent's react when they discovered his illness?

3. How is Wili treated at Paul's house?

4. How do Paul's and Mile's assessments of Wili's illness differ?

5. What traits do Wili and Paul share?

6. What is Paul's home like?

7. Describe Paul's physical and personality characteristics.

8. Who was Sylvester, and what did he do for Wili?

9. Explain the factors that contributed to Wili's decision to stay with Paul.

10. How is the bioscience lab hidden?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Avery, the leader of the Authority in its base of power, the west coast of the United States, begins the novel as a suspicious but effective leader. As events progress, he slowly looses his grasp on sanity, and it becomes clear he has allowed his obsessions to get the better of him.

1) Discuss Avery as a character and a leader. What are his most important defining traits, what makes him an effective leader, and how did he come to a position of power within the Authority?

2) Describe the obsessions that plague Avery and how he struggles with them. Cite examples of Avery either overcoming or being defeated by these obsessions and describe how these events affect his psyche.

3) Explain Avery's final descent into madness, its causes, and its effects on the final conflict with the Tinkers.

Essay Topic 2

The bioscientists are a group not unlike the Tinkers in their pursuit of knowledge. However, the Authority took issue with them some time before the beginning of the novel, and they have been forced to live underground, sometimes in a literal sense.

1) Describe the bioscientists as an organization, their structure, goals, and capabilities.

2) Discuss the reasons the Authority had for deciding to act against the bioscientists. How were these reasons similar to or different from those that cause them to act against the Tinkers?

3) Compare and contrast the bioscientists and the Tinkers in terms of their respective pursuits of knowledge.

4) The Authority blames the widespread plagues on the bioscientists. Write an assessment of this accusation, using evidence from the book.

Essay Topic 3

Trust forms an important part of the development of at least two major characters. Both Wili and Paul learn to trust others and reform themselves dramatically after someone else extends them unconditional trust. Although there were significant risks taken in both cases, the results were positive.

1) Explain why Paul decided to trust Wili, and how Wili responded to this trust.

2) Discuss Wili's decision to trust Mike. How was Wili influenced by his own experiences in making this decision, and what effect did it have on Mike?

3) Summarize the theme of trust within the novel and how it initiates character progression.

4) Speculate as to how the story may have progressed differently had Paul or Wili made different decisions with regards to trusting others.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 952 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample