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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. Where do Tim and Eileen almost drive off the road?

2. What do Eileen and Tim find in Tujunga?

3. What does Tim encounter on his way to the lab?

4. What does Dr. Leonilla Alexandrovna Malik want to be doing?

5. Why do the astronauts consider aborting?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Harry doing when the comet strikes and what is his response?

2. Most of the major characters are introduced in these first dozen or so chapters and much of what is written is about the protagonist(s), antagonist(s) and secondary characters. Define those three terms.

3. What do Tim and Eileen find when they arrive at Tujunga and what is the implication?

4. Why does Harvey wonder about where Marie might be?

5. Discuss how carefully Gordie plans his suicide.

6. How do Tim and Eileen use a clever ruse to make their way through the hysterical crowds?

7. What exchange between Barry and Delores seems to remove some pressure from Barry?

8. What demonstrates how those who survive are the ones who concentrate on their own survival?

9. How is the comet likened to a hot fudge sundae and what is the consequence of that analogy?

10. Why is the rain that is falling salty?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Soon after the comet hits, Eric goes back to the Burbank Jail where he finds that a jailer has released all the prisoners except Fred. Eric, citing the fact that no one deserved to die locked in a cell, kills the murderer. Discuss the following:

Do you believe Eric did the right thing in killing Fred?

What if it were a prisoner where the certainty of his guilt was not proved; then what should Eric do?

What do you think should happen in the prisons across the United States where those serving time have been found guilty in a court of law? Should they be released from certain death if they remain locked up?

Essay Topic 2

As Joanna listens to Mark and Frank, she's increasingly annoyed that Mark continually interrupts Frank with opinions of his own regarding what other catastrophes could cause the end of the world. Frank had originally been undecided whether to accompany the couple, but had gone because he felt Mark incapable of protecting Joanna and Joanna overly confident that she could protect herself. This book is set in the time in which it is written, the mid-1970s. Choose one of the following to discuss:

Discuss three predominant characteristics of 2 of the major female characters in the book. Do you think these women would be portrayed in a similar fashion in a book written today?

Do women still "need" protecting by men? If such a catastrophe happened in the first decade of the 21st century, would women have a different role than in this book?

Some of the fights take place because there are not enough women to "go around." Discuss this idea and its implications.

Essay Topic 3

Fred Lauren murders a woman named Coleen because he believes the end of the world is imminent and thus he no longer fears the threat of punishment by giving in to his insane urges. Discuss the following:

How strongly do you think that doomsday predictions influence those who are mentally unstable already? Give examples from the book and your personal knowledge. (Think about Y2K, Jonestown, etc.).

Do you think you would ever believe a doomsday prediction such as a comet hitting the earth? Why or why not?

Do you believe those who preach such messages should be held accountable for their actions if people who hear them do such things as Fred Lauren does? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

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