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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 a man do in Sister Creep's dream?

2. Swan's mother has a dream about what shortly before dying?

3. What major event is Sister Creep waiting for?

4. As he lies trapped, Colonel Macklin has a flashback to his time in what place?

5. Chapter 6 opens in a theater named ______________.

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the dream that Sister Creep has when she is hiding in the unused subway tunnels.

2. What happens at PawPaw's store when the nuclear attacks begin?

3. What are Macklin's first actions as the new ruler of the Salt Lake settlement?

4. What disagreement does Colonel Macklin have with the builders of Earth House?

5. What happens to the leadership of the American government shortly after the nuclear attacks begin?

6. What is the strategy of the United States to prevent further advances by the USSR?

7. What does Doyle do to the members of Sister's group and why?

8. How does Swan's group react to seeing the lit K-mart?

9. What unusual abilities does Swan seem to possess?

10. What is unusual about the fight that Josh engages in in Chapter 2?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Many people and artifacts exhibit miraculous powers throughout the novel. It is clear that after the blasts, the world has changed in some fundamental ways. Magical or divine powers are present in the world and commonplace in the narrative of the protagonists.

1) Discuss the individuals who are known to demonstrate supernatural powers. Speculate as to where and how these powers might originate.

2) Explain some of the artifacts that are known to possess supernatural powers. Where do these objects originate? Were they mundane before the blasts? What imbued them with power?

3) Describe some of the ways that these miraculous powers affect the plot of the novel. Explain situations wherein they were critical to the story. Explain other important situations where they were merely incidental, and the focus of the story is on the people and their interactions, feelings, or emotions.

Essay Topic 2

Robin and Swan are close in age and are immediately attracted to each other when they meet. For his part, Robin believes Swan to be the most beautiful girl he has ever seen. He falls in love with her at first sight. Although they know they have feelings for each other, they have difficulty expressing them, since they are adolescents and have had little social grooming.

1) Describe the similarities and differences between Swan and Robin. They are both leaders. How do their leadership styles differ?

2) Discuss why Robin and Swan are drawn to each other and why they have difficulties expressing themselves.

3) Explain how Robin and Swan grow closer and eventually confess their feelings.

Essay Topic 3

Forgiveness is an essential component of the plot from the beginning of the novel through to the very end. It is a critical element of the goodness that Swan shares with the world and allows her to change people, to heal communities, and to triumph effortlessly over evil.

1) Explain how Swan demonstrates her capacity for forgiveness throughout the novel, citing specific examples.

2) Discuss the way that other characters perceive the act of forgiveness. What does Sister believe about forgiveness? How is her belief denied or confirmed in the plot?

3) What impact does forgiveness have on Friend? How does Swan use this, without exerting any effort, to defeat Friend at every encounter?

(see the answer keys)

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