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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 do physicists believe in the beginning of the 21st Century?

2. Who is excavating Monastery Saint-Mere in France?

3. What does the MRI on the old man reveal?

4. What is Elsie Kastner's job at the site?

5. How does Katherine react when the Professor hands her the map mailed to them by Wauneka?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who helps Sir Oliver defend La Roque and what is said about him?

2. What does Marek explain about the proton magnetometer?

3. How does one get onto the board of ITC?

4. What alarms the Professor about the ITC's dealings concerning the Dordogne Site?

5. What does quantum technology make possible?

6. What does a young boy say about quantum foam?

7. What is different about Marek's language abilities from most scholars?

8. Who is Katherine Erickson, and what is her job at the Dordogne site?

9. What small problem does Francois Bellin mention to the Professor?

10. Who is Arnaut de Cervole, and what is he known for doing?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Doniger is a man who will stop at nothing to keep his competitive advantage. Opposing Doniger and his billions is one lone rural police officer with a hunch. Thus the author has created tension, for the reader must wait to see if Officer Wauneka will be able to piece the puzzle together, and just how far Doniger and ITC are willing to go to stop him.

a. Discuss the ways in which Doniger is portrayed as a competitive person.

b. Do you think Wauneka pursued his suspicions far enough? Why or why not?

c. Discuss the ways in which Doniger and ITC attempt to stop Wauneka from investigating the death of Joseph Traub and ITC.

Essay Topic 2

Choose one of the following to discuss:

a. Choose two significant symbols and trace and analyze their appearance in Timeline. Are these universal symbols? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other symbols that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Crichton chooses the symbols he does?

b. Choose two important metaphors and trace and analyze their appearance in the novel. Are these universal metaphors? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other metaphors that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Crichton chooses the metaphors he does?

c. Discuss Crichton's use (or lack ) of literary device (such as foreshadowing, clifthangers, deux ex machina, etc...), and how they add or detract from the story. Does Crichton use too many or too little literary techniques? State which of the five major elements of fiction the literary device is related to (style, character, plot, setting, theme).

Essay Topic 3

Many readers of fiction place themselves in the position of one character, wondering if they would do the same thing as that character. Discuss the following:

a. Do you think one of the values of literature is to serve as a reflection of oneself? Why or why not?

b. Socrates said, "Know thyself." How can reading a book such as Timeline help a reader to know him/herself? Do you find yourself reflecting on your own character and abilities when reading Timeline? Why or why not. Use examples from Timeline and your own life to support your answer.

c. Choose one specific incident in Timeline to discuss and compare one of the characters' response to how you think you would respond.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 971 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample