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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 exploring the first city, to simplify the task, only what percentage is to be examined?

2. Who is certified to navigate the Cylindrical Sea?

3. According to Chapter 18, how many "linear suns" switched on?

4. What do the scavenger biots break down overnight, much to the dismay of Ruby Barnes?

5. What do the Rama Committee members want to find evidence, or lack thereof, on Rama?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why did Jimmy Pak approach the crab-like creature?

2. Explain the supposed similarities between a termite colony and Rama.

3. How does Commander Norton feel about Boris Rodrigo's request to send a priority message to the Mother Church?

4. Describe the flower that Jimmy Pak finds on Rama.

5. Explain the differences Jimmy Pak observed in the southern and northern ends of Rama.

6. Why does the exobiologist, Dr. Perera, feel mortified at the beginning of Chapter 19?

7. Describe the first creature that is encountered on Rama.

8. Why is it the case that some planets in the solar system are not represented in the United Planets?

9. How is it possible that the spider-like creature sneaks up on Norton, Rodrigo, Calvert, and Ernst while they are watching the evening news telecast?

10. Why is Chapter 17 entitled "Spring'?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

When exploring a new land, familiar names of locations are comforting to the explorers. This book is filled with locations on extraterrestrial planets and on Rama that are named for locations we are familiar with on Earth. How does the use of these locations influence the reader? Compare and contrast three of these locations and explain how the usage of these locations contributes to the reader's understanding.

Essay Topic 2

Science fiction books, by creating a fictitious world, end up predicting future technological discoveries. What technologies ring true in the book, and what technologies seem either implausible or antiquated by our standards today? Pick three areas of technology and explain your position.

Essay Topic 3

There is much emphasis on ecology, recycling, degradation of the environment, and the creation of pollutants on Rama because it is a closed system. At the time the book was written the recycling movement was in its infancy in the United States and Europe. How might this book reflect the point of view of the author and his contemporaries about recycling and ecology? What are the positive and negative aspects of ecology and recycling as symbolized by the environment on Rama?

(see the answer keys)

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