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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 a major difference between Aurorans and Earth people?

2. What was the surprising relationship between Gladia and Jander?

3. Why does Baley conclude that Gladia must have felt some shame about her relationship to Jander?

4. What is Gladia's origin?

5. To where does Fastolfe say Earth humans have swept natural indigenous species?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the circumstances of Baley's former relationship to Gladia.

2. How does what appears to be an important piece of information escape Baley before he falls into a troubled sleep at Fastolfe's house?

3. Explain Dr. Susan Calvin's theory about the effect of telling a telepathic robot to lie.

4. How is Elijah Baley introduced in the novel?

5. What is the odd thing about the Aurorans dislike for Earth?

6. Explain why Gladia rejects Baley's theory that Gremionis destroyed Jander out of jealousy.

7. Define the line of questioning for which Baley gets no information from the robots who are guarding him.

8. What indicates how life-like the humaniform robots are?

9. How does the reunion of Baley and Fastolfe add to the suspense of the story?

10. Explain the Personal.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay of at least two typed, double-spaced pages on the subject, Ecology and Domed Cities. In THE ROBOTS OF DAWN, the cities on Earth are all covered with domes presumably because the planet's Outside is contaminated and unsafe for human habitation. Your essay should include our current awareness of global warming with Domed Cities as metaphors for the need to reverse looming environmental disasters.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay of at least two typed, double-spaced pages on the subject, The Power of the Drama. Using the example of the drama about Baley as a springboard, explain in your essay how people can be swayed by what they see in dramatic form. You might want to research a little about how Hollywood helped keep the spirits of the American people up during WWII.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay of at least two typed, double-spaced pages on the subject, Judging Books by Their Covers. Using Giskard as an example, discuss how (1) intelligence and function have little to do with appearance of the robot, (2) how an android may appear human but lacks human emotion, and (3) how misjudging robots parallels mistakes in evaluating human beings.

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