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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Who tells Kerans about the plans for departure?
(a) Beatrice.
(b) Bodkin.
(c) Macready.
(d) Riggs.

2. What does Bodkin congratulate Kerans on?
(a) Surviving the nightmare.
(b) Having a biopsychic dream.
(c) Experiencing the fata morgana.
(d) Remembering ancient memories.

3. How does Kerans describe the temperature inside the ward?
(a) Comfortable.
(b) Moderate.
(c) Incredibly hot.
(d) Unusually cold.

4. What does Kerans contemplate stealing from the armoury?
(a) Explosives.
(b) Headphones.
(c) Medication.
(d) Compass.

5. How many of Riggs's men are affected by the dreams, according to Bodkin?
(a) None of them.
(b) Only a few.
(c) About half of them.
(d) All of them.

Short Answer Questions

1. How does Kerans feel as he toys with the compass?

2. What interrupts the quiet of the lagoon one morning in Chapter 7?

3. How does Kerans know that Riggs intends to leave early?

4. In Chapter 4, why does Kerans wear clothing to placate Riggs?

5. What does Kerans deduce about the men who arrived at the lagoon in Chapter 7?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the novel address the concept of evolution?

2. What scientific idea does Bodkin propose?

3. What eats Kerans’ catamaran and why?

4. Why do the freebooters inspect the buildings in the lagoon?

5. What is the significance of Riggs' departure in relation to the remaining characters?

6. How does Kerans perceive his role after realizing the others are gone?

7. Can you describe the “flooded city” in the novel?

8. How is the earth portrayed differently in this book?

9. How does the novel address themes of environmental destruction and climate change?

10. In what way are the flora and fauna evolving?

(see the answer keys)

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