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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 Montoya admit?

2. What does Agnes keep asking?

3. What does Dunworthy discover about the lab where the net is?

4. Why has Fr. Roche consecrated part of the green?

5. What makes Mary begin to believe that the illness is not the South Carolina strain of flu?

Short Essay Questions

1. What note does the young boy bring from the bishop and why does Kirvin already know its contents?

2. Describe the scene where Kivrin goes to mass with the family and her talk with Gawyn on the way home.

3. Describe the discussion between Badri and Dunworthy about Kirvin's time travel.

4. What happens to the envoy and what does Kirvin realize as a result?

5. What does Dunworthy learn about various flu victims after he regains consciousness?

6. Why does Father Roche return to where the clerk lies and what does Kirvin ask of him?

7. Describe Mary Ahrens.

8. What does Kivrin write about the church bells and cemetery?

9. What happens as Kivrin prepares to travel to Scotland with Fr. Roche and Rosemund?

10. What does Kivrin write in her Doomsday Book about various victims?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Often titles reveal much about one or more aspects of a novel. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think is the purpose of a title? How closely related to a major theme(s) of a book do you think a title should be? Or should it be?

2. How is the phrase "Doomsday Book" relevant to the action of the novel? What sort of emotional/psychological response does the title evoke? Why do you think Willis chose this title (if she does)? If you were perusing the library for a book to read and saw this title, would it pique your interest? Why or why not. Does it seem to be the best title for the book?

3. If you were the writer of The Doomsday Book and your editor says the title must be changed, what would you choose? Why?

Essay Topic 2

The time this novel takes place in 2054, approximately 44 years from the present time of 2010. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think technology will have advanced far enough in 44 years to have developed time travel?

2. Willis wrote this book in 1992. Do you think Willis set the novel in the year 2054 because she believes time travel will be developed by then? If not, why do you think she sets the novel such a short distance in the future from the time she writes the book?

3. Does it hinder the ability to "believe" the novel in that it is set in the near future and has such a highly technical ability such as time travel? Why or why not.

Essay Topic 3

Kivrin learns that the twelve year old Rosmund has been betrothed to an older man, Sir Bloet and is soon to marry. Discuss the following:

1. What are Kivrin's reactions to the news about Rosemund's upcoming marriage? Are her reactions typical for the time in which she is visiting? Why or why not?

2. Why do you think Rosemund accepts the idea of marrying a man so much older than she is? Do you think at her age she even understands what marriage means in the sexual sense?

(see the answer keys)

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