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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 bothers Ann about the man and her chickens?

2. About how far is Claypole Ridge?

3. Where is Loomis from?

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

5. What did Loomis' boss invent?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Ann decide to go down to the farm yard and what does she discover?

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

3. How does Ann become inspired to make a salad?

4. What does Loomis say about his activities the night the war breaks out?

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

6. Why does Ann bring Loomis into her home?

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

8. What does the man in the suit do when he finally arrives at Ann's house?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Characters are an integral and important part of almost all novels. Discuss the following:

1. Compare/contrast the characters of Ann and Loomis when they first meet. How are they similar? How are they different? Is there a flaw in each of their personalities? How do they compare as to the way they are raised before being chosen? Do you think they are both good people? Why or why not. Be specific and give examples.

2. Compare/contrast the characters of Ann from the beginning of the book to the end. How has she stayed the same? How has she changed? Have the changes been positive? What do you think Ann needs to change about herself to survive her journey?

3. Thoroughly analyze how three of the secondary characters in Z for Zacharia help drive the plot and what their contribution is to the storyline. Are any of the secondary characters unnecessary? Indispensable? Some secondary "characters" to consider are Faro, Radiation, The Valley, and The War.

Essay Topic 2

Oftentimes, a book is more of a character-driven plot rather than action driven, and oftentimes the other way. Some books seem to balance the two. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not?

5. What type of plot do you think Z for Zachariah is? Explain your response.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the following:

1. Do you think Ann is wise to leave the valley? Do you think the implication is that her dream of teaching children is prophetic and that she will find others? Why or why not?

2. Would you have chosen the same route as Ann, i.e., leaving the valley. Why or why not?

3. How well do you think Ann will survive journeying out into a dangerous world?

4. Do you think Mr. Loomis redeems himself by pointing Ann in a likely direction to begin her journey? Give an in depth response.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,016 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample