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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. Who is Roj Nemennuh Sarton?

2. What is the reason for some of the riots?

3. What is Lije's response to Jesse's fears?

4. Where is Daneel that night?

5. What does the government call things such as riots?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Jesse want and what is Lije's response? Is Jesse justified in her request?

2. Why did Dr. Sarton engage in robotic research?

3. How does it seem that Lije reacts to the idea of having a robot for a partner?

4. Why is R. Daneel so different from other robots?

5. How are robots used by Earthmen versus Spacers?

6. What is Lije subjected to again as he enters Spacetown?

7. What possible theme is already apparent in this first chapter?

8. What is Lije's rationale for believing Dr. Sarton is not dead, but that the Spacers want the Earthmen to believe Dr. Sarton is murdered by a City dweller?

9. Often foreshadowing is not apparent until later, but there are usually reasons an author mentions something trivial because it foreshadows something later: What is one thing that may be foreshadowing?

10. What does Lije observe about R. Daneel and what might be the implication of this observation?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The laws of robotics are discussed in a number of chapters. Discuss the following:

1. Explain in your own words the three laws of robotics and why they probably exist.

2. Can you think of any other laws of robotics that should be in place? Explain.

3. If you had a robot employee or servant, would you want it to merely respond to commands with no emotions or would you like it endowed with artificial intelligence so that it could think at some level? Explain your preference.

Essay Topic 2

There are a number of examples in the book where it is obvious that human society is more strictly regulated and structured in the time of THE CAVES OF STEEL than at the present time in the United States. Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze the way the world of THE CAVES OF STEEL is structured and regulated. Evaluate its effectiveness and its problems.

2. Compare/contrast the society in which Lije lives versus an average American today.

3. Are there countries that are as tightly controlled in the "real" world as that in THE CAVES OF STEEL? Compare the two.

Essay Topic 3

In "Introduction to a Family," we learn a little about Lije and Jesse's relationship and how they function as a family with their son, Bentley. Discuss the following:

1. Compare/contrast Lije's family with your own.

2. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the relationship between Lije and Jesse. Are their given names (Elijah and Jezebel) perhaps symbolic of their relationship in some way?

3. Do you think the family structure observed in THE CAVES OF STEEL is as strong as that in the general American population?

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