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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. Who is in the living room at the opening of the play?

2. What does Kreton note he has decided he will do to the world?

3. What does Ellen tell the family she and Conrad are doing in Richmond?

4. What does Kreton put around the ship?

5. What does Reba note to Tom that has changed in her appearance?

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain where Kreton lives.

2. Summarize the argument of Roger against the existence of UFOs.

3. In the end of the play, who is (are) the only character(s) who end(s) up being selfless?

4. What is each character thinking at the end of Act I?

5. Why is Powers upset he is in charge of the Kreton project?

6. Describe what Conrad says occurred during the night with Roger.

7. What does Powers tell Roger about the reality of the UFO, and why does he threaten to indict Roger under the Revised Espionage Act?

8. What is Kreton's response to the question of whether his people are there to establish trade? Communications?

9. Describe Kreton's appearance.

10. What happens when Powers threatens to take Kreton's ship apart?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the play, Kreton notes several times that humans are addicted to violence. Do you agree? Why or why not? What elements in society tend to perpetuate that viewpoint? What elements refute it? Why? Do you feel that our society is one of violence? Has the world become more violent since the writing of the play? Why or why not? What does this indicate about Kreton's statement?

Essay Topic 2

The government of the United States, and the people in the Spelding household, are shown to be extremely suspicious of anything out of the ordinary. Kreton, later in the novel, notes that humans are suspicious by nature. Do you think this is true? Why or why not? When something occurs out of the ordinary, or when we, as humans, meet new people, do we assume they are friendly, or unfriendly? Why is this? What was Vidal trying to say about human nature?

Essay Topic 3

Kreton argues that human beings are particularly adept at war, and that they specialize in it.

Part 1. Do you agree with Kreton? Why or why not? What makes us, as humans, good at war?

Part 2. Kreton also notes major scientific discoveries are found during war. Why is this true? What causes discoveries to be found during war? Does this argue for the use of war as a method of technological advancement? Why or why not? Would these discoveries have been made outside of war? Why?

Part 3. History is full of records of war. Why do humans engage in wars? What are some of the causes? Does this support or refute Kreton's position that humans specialize in war? Why?

(see the answer keys)

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