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 reason does Anthor give for visiting Arcadia's house?

2. What is the first thing that Pritchard and Channis do in 4-6?

3. Why does Arcadia tell her father she was being rude to Anthor?

4. What disguised title does Anthor receive while visiting with the doctor?

5. What does the First Speaker condition the Mule's mind to believe?

Short Essay Questions

1. When Pritchard grows fearful and begins to think about his life before the Mule conditioned his mind, how does he react?

2. What reasons does the Mule give for believing that the Second Foundation was not on Tazenda judging by Channis' reactions?

3. What is the Mule's motivations for finding the Second Foundation? How close has he come to this discovery?

4. What is the history of Han Pritcher and how does this character remember his past?

5. How has Arcadia kept herself busy since Anthor's arrival?

6. What difference in time do the events in 7-9 take place after 4-6 and how is this shown by the characters?

7. Why does Dr. Darell scold Arcadia when he enters her room at the beginning of 7-9?

8. In 7-9, what reasons does Arcadia give that she has knowledge that her father is expecting a visitor?

9. How does Channis describe the people of Rossem?

10. In 4-6, how does the Mule know that Channis is a Second Foundationer?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Trust is the foundation on what relationships are built and the characters in "Second Foundation" experience many examples of doubt and double-cross. Please respond with supporting examples to the following:

1) How does the issue of trust affect the lives of the characters before the downfall of the Mule?

2) How does the issue of trust affect the lives of the characters after the downfall of the Mule?

3) Does Asimov imply that there really is no true level of trust that can be achieved between people as is portrayed in "Second Foundation"?

Essay Topic 2

Isaac Asimov has had substantial influence in the modern world due to his widely known written works of both nonfiction and fiction. Please respond to the following with supporting facts:

1) How did Asimov's childhood influence his career choice?

2) How did Asimov's career as a science professor influence his choice to write science fiction?

3) What examples of Asimov's beliefs are evident in "Second Foundation"?

Essay Topic 3

Powerful forces in the fictional society of "Second Foundation" are able to influence and even control the minds of humans. Respond to the following with supporting evidence from the novel:

1) In the novel, what level of difficulty is the ability to control a person's mind? How easily influenced are people by the Mule or the Second Foundation?

2) How does the author portray that certainty a person can have about someone's mind being control? How about the certainty of a person's own mind being controlled?

3) What is the difference between the controlling powers of the Mule versus the powers of the Second Foundation?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 893 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample