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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 is special about the water used for the baptism?

2. What do Lauren and her father have in common?

3. Why does Lauren's father say he doesn't go North?

4. What does Lauren say "can be our future"?

5. What kind of animal does Richard Moss raise?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Emery tell Lauren about sharers having children?

2. Why does Lauren say that Zahra is useful?

3. Why is there sometimes problems with the relationship between Rev. Olamina and Jay Garfield?

4. Why does Lauren's dad return to Robledo?

5. Why does Lauren think it is a mistake to take Emery and Tori with them?

6. What "family business" does Lauren's father believe in keeping private?

7. Why do some people think it is a waste to go to Mars?

8. Why does Lauren's stepmother say she prefers the city lights?

9. What does Lauren think Bankole is lying about?

10. What is "prodigy" according to the opening passage of the book?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Lauren rejects her Baptist upbringing with her more "universal" Earthseed philosophy. Explain how Butler presents the concept of religion in the novel. Does religion seem to be a positive or negative influence? Compare and contrast the religion of Rev. Olamina with the core Earthseed beliefs.

Essay Topic 2

Explain what environmental changes occur in America at the time of the story. How does this affect the social fabric? What effects does it have on Lauren and the other characters? What environmental considerations do the travelers take into account when planning the community at Acorn?

Essay Topic 3

Although Lauren is very young, she seems much older and more mature than even many of the adults around her. Explain some of the ways in which she seems older than her years, based on examples from the text. Do you think that this believable? What do you think causes Lauren to be so mature?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 652 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample