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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. Why does Ann decide to keep the man in sight for the first two or more?

2. What does Ann think Faro will do?

3. What does Loomis show Ann in one of her father's books?

4. How does Ann know what she states in the opening sentence?

5. What does Ann think about in a flashback to right after the war?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the man discover his terrible error about the Creek and what does he do?

2. Why does Ann think someone is coming to her valley?

3. How does Loomis manage to survive on his long journey walking from New York?

4. How does Mr. Loomis seem later that evening, and what does Ann give him?

5. What does Ann decide to do as the stranger draws closer?

6. What does Loomis say he was developing before the war?

7. What does the man do with his Geiger counter and then what terrible error does he make?

8. Why is the valley special?

9. Explain why Ann is alone in the valley.

10. What does the man say possibly happened to Ann's family?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Z for Zachariah could be said to be a "bildungsroman" of Ann, the main character. Discuss the following:

1. Define the concepts "bildungsroman" and "coming of age."

2. Thoroughly trace and analyze Z for Zachariah as a bildungsroman of Ann. Give specific examples. What does Ann learn? How has she changed? Is the change for the better?

3. Do you think young people in our modern culture go through a coming of age period? Do you think the concept of "coming of age" is inherent in the human experience? Why or why not?

4. Do you think you have lived through a "coming of age" period in your own life? Discuss as thoroughly as you willing to share.

Essay Topic 2

Many novels, and perhaps a majority, of novels end on a happy note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why not? Do you think Z for Zachariah ends on a happy note? Why or why not?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of Z for Zachariah and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why Z for Zachariah is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

In most fiction, readers would like all the loose ends to be neatly "tied up." Discuss the following:

1. Do you think Z for Zachariah is successful as an apocalyptic novel? Why or why not?

2. What about this book would motivate you to read another apocalyptic novel? What would discourage you from doing so?

3. Were all the "loose ends" satisfactorily settled for you? Why or why not?

4. Do you think that a reader expects that not all loose ends are tied up in a book in a series, unless it's the last book?

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