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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 does Faro point to in the field?

2. What does Loomis say about the night the bombs fall?

3. What does Ann decide she will do after cooking breakfast?

4. What does Ann see when she goes and looks out of the boundaries of her valley?

5. In what month does the book open?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Ann daydream about as she is picking salad greens?

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

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

4. Why is Mr. Loomis at Burden Creek when Ann returns from picking greens, and how does he think the Creek can be used?

5. What does Ann worry about when she discovers that Faro has returned?

6. How does Ann get the tractor running and what planting decision does she make?

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

8. Why doesn't Ann think the arriving stranger is in a car and what does she think about what he is bringing?

9. Explain why Ann is alone in the valley.

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Ann rises early and collects greens to make a salad with. As she picks, Ann imagines what it would be like to marry Mr. Loomis. The idea makes Ann happy because she likes the idea of having children of her own. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think it is sane to be thinking about bringing children into a world such as the one in which Ann now lives? Why or why not?

2. In many apocalyptic novels, women are forced to bear children in order to continue the human race. Do you think it is right to force all women of childbearing age to have children regardless of their own personal desires in a situation such as Ann's?

3. Why do you think that most apocalyptic novels have as one of their premises that it is important that the human race survive? Do you agree with this premise? Explain your answer.

4. Assuming there are other areas of the world where humans are unharmed and the environment is radiation free, then does it seem less important that the few people of the United States that may have survived bear children? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

In chapter 11, Ann pieces together the story of Mr. Loomis and Edward and realizes that Mr. Loomis likely murdered Edward. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think you would have done when caring for Loomis and learning he had likely murdered someone?

2. Does Ann seem to take the situation seriously? Does her response seem to reflect a greater maturity than the typical 15 year old or about the same as the average 15 year old?

3. Would you have confronted Mr. Loomis as soon as he was able to interact? Would you have confronted him at all? Ann waits until she is leaving the valley--do you think that is the best course of action?

Essay Topic 3

Many readers of a book such as Z for Zachariah place themselves in the position of someone like Ann, wondering about what their response would be in a similar situation. Discuss the following:

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

2. Socrates said "Know thyself." How can reading a book such as Z for Zachariah help a reader to know him/herself? Do you find yourself reflecting on your own character and abilities when reading Z for Zachariah ? Why or why not?

3. Choose one specific incident to discuss and compare Ann's response to how you think you would respond.

(see the answer keys)

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