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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 happens once every fourteen days on Mercury?

2. When do Boaz and Unk realize they are not on Earth?

3. How does Bee react to learning of her exile with Malachi?

4. Who is the man on Earth who manages the Martian investments?

5. How is the message on the cave wall written?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do the harmoniums continue to leave messages in the cave for Unk and Boaz?

2. Why does Bee agree to be exiled with Malachi?

3. What purpose does Constant's journey from Earth to Mars to Mercury and back to Earth serve for Rumfoord?

4. Why do the people crowded around Unk and his space ship cheer at Unk's answer to their question regarding what happened to him?

5. What is the "taste of hell" that the Martian commandos rain down on Earth?

6. As Unk's ship lands on Earth, what is the one desire that is driving Unk on?

7. As Malachi climbs the ladder to the space ship and prepares for his upcoming exile on Titan, why is he weeping?

8. What is Boaz and Unk's space ship programmed to do when the ship reaches its destination?

9. Contrast Boaz's living arrangements with Unk's living arrangements while the two men are stranded on Mercury.

10. What role does Mrs. Lyman Peterson play in the defense of Earth?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast Malachi's lifestyle and personality characteristics at the following points in the story:

a. At the beginning of the story when Malachi is first invited to meet Winston.

b. After Malachi learns he is broke.

c. When Malachi is known as Unk.

d. When Malachi is exiled to Titan.

Essay Topic 2

Rumfoord employs many sinister techniques to make sure the people involved in his scheme end up exactly where they are supposed to end up.

a. Identify four methods Rumfoord uses to keep the other characters in place.

b. How does Rumfoord hide his identity as he interacts with these characters?

c. What other methods might Rumfoord have used to still achieve his purpose? Would your method have been as effective in the story? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

When stranded on Titan, Malachi originally begins to attempt to fix Salo because he wants Chrono to be able to spend his remaining days on Earth. In the end, while Malachi chooses to return to Earth, there are several characters who are quite content to abandon their home planet.

a. Compare and contrast Beatrice, who chooses to leave Earth, and Boaz, who chooses to remain on Mercury.

b. Compare and contrast Boaz and Chrono, who both decline to return to Earth when they have the chance to go back.

(see the answer keys)

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