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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 is driving Isaac crazy on Rakhat in 2061?

2. What does Sofia assume about Isaac?

3. How far forward in time does Chapter 21 jump?

4. About what does Sofia teach the Runa?

5. Why does Emilio freeze when he sees Rukuei?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is driving Isaac crazy in the Runa camp and what does he do about it?

2. What does Laaks tell Emilio about Ha'anala and what is Emilio's response?

3. What does Sofia say about Isaac and his music when she is an old woman talking to Danny, Sean and John?

4. What does Sean want to know from Emilio as they talk of God on the Bruno and what does Sean say Emilio must do about his misfortune?

5. Describe the fight between Supaari and Hlavin.

6. What does Emilio do to avoid nightmares and what does he do when he sees himself dead?

7. What angers Puska about Hlavin and what does she know about Ha'anala's fate?

8. Why do the priests wake Emilio and what are the results of what they know?

9. What does Suukmel recall about God and the three different species on Rakhat that Ha'anala told her?

10. What does Emilio think about Isaac's music and what does he want?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The time this novel takes place about sixty years in the future. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think technology in "real life" will have advanced as far as it has in CHILDREN OF GOD in fifty years? Do you think it will have advanced further? Explain thoroughly with examples.

2. What do you think are the difficulties of creating a setting far into the future? What are the advantages?

3. Many science fiction novels written in the early 20th century actually "predicts" some technology that is commonplace during the first decade of the 21st century. Research some early science fiction novels and discuss how much of the "pretend" technology is actually "real" now. How you think Napoleon Hill's belief that "what man can conceive and believe, man can achieve" can explain how technology in early science fiction is now a reality?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze the theme of manipulation and power in CHILDREN OF GOD. Consider the following questions as you write: What characters are most concerned with manipulation and power? Why? What are some symbols of manipulation and power? Symbols of powerlessness? What characters seem powerless?

2. Trace and analyze the theme of genocide in CHILDREN OF GOD. Which characters seem to accept that genocide is sometimes necessary? Why? Which characters seem opposed to genocide no matter what? Why? Which ones seem not to care one way or the other?

3. Trace and analyze the theme of death. Death happens on a scale that is almost incomprehensible with thousands of sentient beings being wiped out of existence. Does this inure a reader to the impact of death? When death is brought to a more individual level, such as in Rakhat, does it have a greater impact? How do the Jana'ata civilization seem to view death? What about the Runa?

Essay Topic 3

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 A Fire Upon the Deep is? Explain your response.

(see the answer keys)

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