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 advice does Anthor tell Dr. Darell to do if a man ever wants to marry Arcadia?

2. Pritchard describes the people of Rossem in what way?

3. Who does Channis say the Second Foundation members are really after when talking to Pritchard in 4-6?

4. As recounted in 1-3, who almost told the Mule the location of the Second Foundation five years before?

5. What happens to Pritchard as he has disloyal thoughts?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do Dr. Darell and Anthor do for the week after Anthor's arrival? How does this help with Anthor's disguise?

2. What factors contribute to Channis' popularity on Kaglan?

3. Who is the leader of the Galaxy and how did this leader rise to power?

4. In 1-3, what reason does the Mule give Channis about his assurance that the mythical Second Foundation really exists?

5. During the confrontation on Rossem, in what trap does Channis catch the Mule?

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

7. What are Channis' reasons for telling Pritchard that his mind has been tampered with by the Second Foundation in 4-6? Why would the Second Foundation leave Pritchard's feeling of loyalty?

8. What does Anthor ask Dr. Darell as they descend downstairs in 7-9? What is Dr. Darell's reaction?

9. Why did the Seldon Plan fail as described by the author?

10. Toward the end of 1-3, what does the technician find in the ship and what is Channis' response?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There is confusion throughout the novel on whether or not a character is acting upon their own free will or by the manipulations of a controlling force. Please respond to the following with supporting evidence from the story:

1) Arcadia is a rebellious teenager who acts upon her own desires and yet it is revealed that she has been under the influence of the Second Foundation since being a baby. Has her free will been her own or a part of the Second Foundation's conditioning?

2) How does Asimov use the character of the Lieutenant from Kalgan to prove that free will is a fallacy in the society of "Second Foundation"?

3) What is the author's purpose in portraying free will as something that might just be part of a larger influential control?

Essay Topic 2

Asimov is a leading author in the literary genre of science fiction and his novel "Second Foundation" is an example of his work that fits into this category. Respond to the following with supporting examples from the story:

1) How does the setting of the novel reflect elements of science fiction?

2) How does the technology featured in the novel reflect attributes of science fiction?

3) In what ways does science fiction allow Asimov to write about events featured in "Second Foundation"?

Essay Topic 3

Being the third book in the Foundation Trilogy, "Second Foundation" has many qualities that clue the reader into it being part of a series. Please respond to the following with supporting details from the novel:

1) How does Asimov include the reader into the series right from the start in his introduction to the book?

2) What events in the story are continuations from previous books in the series?

3) Is a reader able to read "Second Foundation" without having read the two previous books? How does Asimov assist in this process?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 887 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample