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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 do the professors at the school stop themselves from being distracted?

2. What kind of living quarters does the institute provide for Shevek

3. Which illness does Shevek contract?

4. Why does Shevek have to keep the information he will learn secret?

5. What do the engineers say Shevek can help make possible?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does seeing Odo's grave and prison give Shevek a better perspective?

2. In what way is Vea's argument similar to Bedap's?

3. Why is Anarres the key to Urras?

4. How does Shevek cope with leaving behind the familiarity of his world?

5. How does living in Abbeney widen Shevek's limited experience?

6. What do you think Shevek discoverd at the Terran Embassy?

7. How does Sabul prove Tirin's theory correct?

8. What is the significance of the wall surrounding the port?

9. What does the man's hand, shot off at the end of the chapter, symbolize to Shevek?

10. Why does Shevek not see his apparent freedom as a good thing?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The wall is an important metaphor in the story and means different things at different points.

1) What does the wall that surrounds the Port of Anarres symbolize?

2) What is the significance of the prison walls that surround Kadagv?

3) What is the link between the wall and Shevek's parents?

4) What do you think the overall meaning of the wall is?

Essay Topic 2

In what way does Shevak's move from isolation to socializing change his character? What does isolation teach him? What does socializing teach him?

Essay Topic 3

In the 4th chapter, Shevek meets his mother for the first time in years. What does his reaction show about him as a person? Does the meeting help or hinder his progress? Does he change in any way after the meeting?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 812 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample