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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. How does Bertram Scudder, editor of "The Future" magazine, characterize Hank Rearden?

2. When Dr. Stadler questions why the man who was developing the revolutionary motor was working in a factory research lab, what is Dagny's reply?

3. How did the Sternes say they tried to run Twentieth Century Motors?

4. What is the surprising question Francisco poses to Dagny at the wedding reception?

5. What is the real outcome after the court fines Rearden $5,000 and gives him a suspended sentence?

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain the significance of the mysterious Halley's Fifth Concerto in developing the novel.

2. Rand introduces "Wyatt's Torch" as Dagny returns on the train to Wyatt Junction. What does the term suggest?

3. Discuss the different views from "the top" and "the bottom."

4. When an agreement is reached that closes the John Galt Line and the Rio Norte Line, what does Francisco mean when he asks Dagny if they had murdered John Galt?

5. Describe how the chain is viewed by Henry Rearden, Lillian Rearden, and Dagny Taggart. Explain its significance to the story.

6. Using the example of the Anti-Dog-Eat-Dog rule, explain in a few paragraphs how eliminating competition by legislation destroys productivity.

7. How does the Twentieth Century Motor Company demonstrate the results of the communistic idea of "from each according to his ability, to each according to his need"?

8. The title of the chapter, "The Exploiters and the Exploited" might suggest that the industrialists like Hank Rearden exploit the public by creating products for their own personal gratification. Rand, however, turns that around to suggest that the socialist government are exploiting the industrialists. Support that idea.

9. Lillian demands the Rearden Metal bracelet back and threatens to tell everyone that Dagny is sleeping with her husband. What is the irony of that situation?

10. In the chapter Rand calls "Account Overdrawn," how does the author picture the results of the socialist government's regulations?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write a paper about John Galt's relationship to the other characters.

Essay Topic 2

Do an indepth character study of Ragnar Danneskjtzld the pirate who hates violence but does so much destruction in the novel. Is there some significance to his coloring? What is his only religious tenet that he holds to?

Essay Topic 3

Write a short paper about what Francisco left behind in Mexico. Why did he pay top dollar for inferior materials?

(see the answer keys)

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