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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 reason does Arcadia give to know that her father was expecting a visitor?

2. Why does Pritchard pull out his weapon in 4-6?

3. In 7-9, what is the name of the mysterious man?

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

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

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Channis describe the planet that is likely to be home to the Second Foundation?

2. How does Channis describe the people of Rossem?

3. How do the Rossem elders react to the arrival of Pritchard and Channis?

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

5. How does the opening of "Second Foundation" help the reader understand events that have occurred earlier in the trilogy?

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

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

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

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

10. How does the Mule admit defeat? What happens after the Mule's defeat?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The literary tool of satire is employed by the author throughout the novel, using vile dictators and smug warlords for starters. Respond to the following with supporting evidence from the novel:

1) In what ways does Asimov satire governments in "Second Foundation"?

2) How does the author lampoon dictators who lust for power through the rule and downfall of the Mule?

3) What aspect of the novel's satire illustrates the author's view on his political climate?

Essay Topic 2

With family members, political rulers and even one's own mind being controlled by powerful forces, paranoia plays a powerful role in the novel. Respond to the following with supporting details from "Second Foundation."

1) In what ways does the character of Pritcher exhibit extreme paranoia?

2) What are the reasons that the characters in the book are paranoid? Does the author validate these reasons by the end of the novel?

3) How does the author use a reader's real life concern about mind control to underscore the paranoia in the book?

Essay Topic 3

During the 1940s and 1950s, both the United Sates and the USSR struggled to achieve dominance in their area of the globe. Asimov uses this scuffle for power as inspiration for the novel. Respond to the following with supporting examples from the book:

1) How does Asimov parallel the dominance of the Mule with that of the USSR?

2) Why do the geographic locations of the Foundation and the Mule mimic that of the United States and the USSR?

3) What is Asimov's purpose in making comparisons to that point in history with his novel?

(see the answer keys)

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