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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. Where does Josella suggest they go in the morning?

2. Where do Bill and Josella go at the end of Chapter Four?

3. What is the name of the hospital in which the narrator is residing?

4. How does Bill believe the triffids came to be?

5. What is the man at the end of Chapter 1 going to do?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the walking style of a triffid.

2. What surprises Josella about her actions when she was captive?

3. Explain the argument of Beadley that the world is better off after the comet than it was before.

4. Describe the events of the night of May 7th, in terms of what the narrator notes is said to have occurred, according to history books.

5. What is revealed about the triffids in Chapter Four, and how is this revealed in the book?

6. Do you agree with Bill's statement at the end of Chapter Six that man is lost without his ability to see? Why or why not?

7. Explain why the Colonel and the others want to leave London?

8. What is revealed about the new use for sighted children and blind women in Chapter Three?

9. Explain what the landlord at the end of chapter 1 plans on doing, and how.

10. Why does Bill not kill the man holding Josella captive?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain Bill's belief about the end of civilization, based on his previous comments in the novel about the dangers of satellites and the hostility of the world, as well as his comments in Chapter Fifteen about the walking of the world on a tightrope. What do you think Bill means by this? What do you think he believes caused the end of civilization? What does he say he thinks caused the comet? What is Josella's response to his belief? Do you agree with his thoughts? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Throughout the novel, Bill and the others fight to retain their rights to their own lives. Before the crisis, Bill admits he lived for his job. What does Bill feel following the crisis? How does the crisis affect his outlook on life? In what ways is Bill forced to fight for his freedom throughout the novel? How does Josella fight for hers? What forces are trying to take away their freedom? Why? What do those individuals want with Bill and Josella? Is this fair? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Light is used as a metaphor for hope, freedom, and security throughout the novel. In what ways does the author use this metaphor? How does he show what this symbol stands for? Choose one instance of the use of light as a symbol. Explain the situation. What are the characters doing? How is the symbol used? What is light symbolizing? Why did the author choose light as this symbol?

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