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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. In what city does the temperature hit 100.6 on August 11, 1900?

2. Where does Isaac give a speech about weather to a packed crowd?

3. A photograph of Isaac shows him to be what?

4. In what field is Isaac a pioneer?

5. What is the heart of the weather service?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Isaac believe that no storm could harm Galveston?

2. What is the weather like across the country during August 1900?

3. What characteristics do they know in 1900 that all hurricanes have in common?

4. How is Isaac a reflection of the country at this time?

5. How was weather recorded before the creation of the weather service?

6. Describe the photograph taken of Isaac by New Orleans photographer.

7. What is the purpose of the eighteen-page letter that William Stockman sends to Col. Dunwoody?

8. What is the butterfly effect?

9. How does Larson describe the center of a hurricane?

10. How does Moore treat the weather forecasting being done in Cuba?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What are examples of the hurricane bringing out both the best and worst in people throughout the story? What does this say about both the best and worst sides of human nature? What are real life examples that demonstrate this same truth?

Essay Topic 2

What price is to be paid for man's arrogance gained through technological advances? How is Isaac's Storm a cautionary tale about man's sense of technological power over nature? How likely will this theme continue long into the future of man?

Essay Topic 3

Isaac said this in relation to deciding on a career: "I then made up my mind that I would seek some field where I could tell big stories and tell the truth." Discuss what he means by this as well as whether he accomplished this goal. What is prophetic about this quote in relation to the hurricane?

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