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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 does the bartender request from Kin?

2. Why does Silver go by a nickname?

3. Why do the characters fly the ship around the flat planet?

4. How does the raven escape from its cage?

5. Without day credits, employees of the Company would suffer what effects?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Jago die?

2. How are the explorers able to communicate with the inhabitants of the flat planet?

3. What things are unusual about the ship that Jago arranged for the expedition?

4. Describe Silver's appearance and personality. Why is she interested in the flat planet?

5. What does the Company provide for humanity as a whole and, specifically, for its employees?

6. As they fly around the flat planet, what do Kin and the others observe and conclude about it?

7. What are Kin's interests, outside of her work?

8. What happens to the ship during its approach to the surface, and what is the result of this?

9. What is learned about Jago during Silver and Marco's first encounter with him face-to-face?

10. What are some of the technological resources that the group has at their disposal, and how will these things help them?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The concept of loyalty is important in the story. It affects Kin most of all, since she has immense loyalty to the Company and has reasons to begin questioning them.

Part 1) What is the nature of loyalty, and how is it seen in this book? How do the characters develop loyalty?

Part 2) How and why do characters betray or question their loyalty?

Part 3) What important roles does loyalty play in the storyline? What does it illustrate about the characters that it affects? How would the book be different and potentially less interesting if these complex loyalties were not present, or did not develop?

Essay Topic 2

There are many examples of characters attempting and succeeding in taking revenge in this novel. It is a major theme that causes important changes within characters and drives the plot forward at important points.

Part 1) Which characters attempt or succeed in taking revenge in the novel? What are their motivations? Are they justified in their intentions?

Part 2) How do these actions affect and change these characters? Do they come to regret their actions?

Part 3) What can be said about the overall impact of the desire for revenge in the novel? In general, is it helpful or destructive? If one or more cases are exceptions to this general rule, explain their nature and importance.

Essay Topic 3

The strata machine, invented by either the Spindle Kings, the Wheelers before them, or possibly some earlier race, is capable of creating new planets. This is the primary occupation of the Company, and it has given them immense power as well as ensuring the survival of the human race. There is not much detail given about the process of creating a new planet. This essay addresses that subject in a creative fashion.

Part 1) How does the process of building a planet begin? What factors have to be determined during the planning stage? What personnel and resources are required for the operation?

Part 2) What is the first step in the actual construction of the planet? How does construction proceed from these first stages through to the completion of the project?

Part 3) What are some special considerations that have to be taken into account in the final touches of planet creation?

Part 4) How are colonists selected and placed on the planet, and how is the planet maintained and monitored?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,016 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample