View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the name of the man hired by Biosyn to help the company clean up its image?

2. What does Levine learn about the handling of the carcasses that infuriates him?

3. What is the name of the man who, in the 1960s, imagines that dinosaurs are warm-blooded creatures?

4. What does Levine have a reputation for being?

5. Where is the concept of a technomyth developed?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Kelly thrilled to learn that Thorne will call Sarah Harding if he can't reach Levine on the sat phone?

2. When the theory of evolution was first presented, there was very little debate. Why?

3. In the 1970s, why could no one answer questions regarding the fragility of the earth's ecosystem?

4. According to Victorian-era scientists, what are dinosaurs like?

5. Why do the other girls at school taunt Kelly?

6. The head of Biosyn dislikes Dodgson, but likes having him around. Why?

7. A statue of a raptor is outside the biology department at the university where Malcolm works. Why does Malcolm think the statue of the velociraptor is insulting to the raptor?

8. As Ed James sits outside Levine's apartment and eavesdrops on the conversation between Thorne, Malcolm, and the children, why is James embarrassed?

9. How does Malcolm handle the newscasts that report Malcolm's death in Costa Rica?

10. What is reductionism? Is it useful in complexity theory or not?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Kelly and Arby have been extremely helpful to Levine as he has planned for his expedition. However, the children were never supposed to be on the island.

a. Discuss how the children's appearance affects the story in terms of the plot, the emotional involvement of the characters, and the abilities the children bring to the group.

b. The reaction to the children's unexpected appearance on the island was somewhat muted by the main characters. Why?

c. Why might Crichton have chosen to have these characters be children, not adults? What point is he trying to get across? Is he successful? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Examine the overriding beliefs the following characters had before they went to Isla Sorna and how those beliefs were changed by the events that transpired on the island: Levine, Harding, Malcolm, and Thorne.

Essay Topic 3

Compare and contrast Richard Levine with Lewis Dodgson.

a. How are the two characters similar in terms of their professional lives? How are they different?

b. How are the two characters similar in their personality characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses? How are they different?

c. Only one of these characters ultimately survives the ordeal on the Costa Rican island. Is Dodgson's death a result of his own doing or a result of dumb luck? Is Levine's survival a result of his own doing or a result of dumb luck? Support your reasoning for both.

d. Looking forward, how might this ordeal have affected each of these men as they moved forward with their lives? Would they be similarly affected or not? Explain your answers and your reasoning.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 847 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample