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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. When does the story take place?

2. How does Dwight react to the country?

3. Why does Moira think going to school is ridiculous?

4. Why does Peter ride his bicycle to Mr. Paul's farm?

5. How long as it been since Peter had an assignment?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Moira learn about Dwight while touring the submarine?

2. How has the boisterous revelry of the townspeople changed over the past year?

3. Describe briefly what the story is about.

4. What is the reason Sir Froude is drinking wine against his doctor's orders?

5. What is the problem with Moira's ability to understand what has happened in the world?

6. What is Dwight's experience in church the weekend he spends with Peter and Mary?

7. What does John Osbourne estimate was the size of the nuclear war that was fought?

8. Explain where is it deemed possible that life might actually be able to continue on Earth?

9. How do some people hold the hope that one day humans will again populate the Earth?

10. What is notable about Mary's plans for her garden?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay about going home to die. Clearly Dwight would like to do the same thing as seaman Swain. Explain what prevents him. Define the characteristic of Dwight's that prevents him from ordering the USS Scorpion to return to the northeastern United States.

Essay Topic 2

Write a critique of Nevil Shute's ON THE BEACH. Evaluate Shute as a story teller and how well he holds the attention of the reader. Also evaluate the importance of the subject matter and whether it contributes a good message to the world. Mention the parts you think are strongest and weakest in the book. Conclude with a recommendation as to who would most benefit from reading the novel.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay on stoicism in the face of death. Use John Osbourne as your example of a person who knows what to expect and accepts the inevitable. State your opinion about the dignity with which Osbourne faces death.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 634 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample