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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 branch of the armed services is Allison Parker a part of?

2. Where do Wili, Mike, and Della go after they return to the shore?

3. Where does Allison think their aircraft crashed?

4. What do Paul and the others leave behind for their pursuers?

5. The woman who greets Mike, Wili, and Jeremy at the entrance to the bioscience lab tells them what?

Short Essay Questions

1. At the Peace Authority, what causes are discussed for the collapse of the bobble near Greater Tucson?

2. Describe the symptoms of the illness that overcomes Wili during the first winter he spends with Paul.

3. Who was Sylvester, and what did he do for Wili?

4. What are Paul's reasons for accepting Wili as an apprentice?

5. How do Paul's and Mile's assessments of Wili's illness differ?

6. How and why does Della manipulate Mike?

7. What happens to Jeremy as he, Wili, and Mike attempt to escape from the bioscience lab?

8. What is the Authority's plan for the Tinkers?

9. How did Wili's parent's react when they discovered his illness?

10. What discovery causes the Authority to become more suspicious about the Tinkers?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The events after the chess tournament and at the tenement house spark the final conflict between the Tinkers and the Authority, exacerbating a disagreement that could have smoldered for a long time or fizzled into nothing.

1) Explain the Authority's motivations for intervening at the chess tournament. What were their long and short term goals in this action, and what consequences did they anticipate or fail to anticipate?

2) Discuss Wili's insistence on aiding those trapped at the tenement house. Explain his plan to help them and why he is willing and able to follow through on this dangerous plan.

3) Describe how the events surrounding the chess tournament hostages escalate the conflict between the Tinkers and the Authority.

4) Cite evidence from the novel to explain how the plot may have progressed differently had either Wili or the Authority acted differently at either of these junctions.

Essay Topic 2

Kaladze is an important leader, and as a powerful independent force, both the Tinkers and the Authority attempt to maneuver him to their advantage.

1) Describe Kaladze as a character and a leader. Describe the nature of his settlement and the forces that he controls.

2) Discuss the interest Kaladze has in the conflict between the Tinkers and the Authority and how he initially sides himself. Explain how Paul and others are able to influence him to support the Tinkers' side.

3) Explain Della's attempts to manipulate Kaladze on behalf of the Authority. How does she attempt to control his actions, and what does she hope to cause him to do? Explain how successful Della's plan is.

Essay Topic 3

Project Renaissance begins as a fall back plan created in the face of an uncertain threat from the Tinkers. However, Avery's increasing paranoia cause him to attempt to trigger this doomsday plan with little provocation.

1) Describe Project Renaissance. What is its purpose, and what would its launch involve? What would be the impact of this plan on the world?

2) Discuss the Authority's general willingness to fall back on Renaissance. Why do some Authority figures believe it will not be necessary, and why do some of them believe it should not be enacted in any case?

3) Explain Avery's decision to launch Renaissance. According to the information he had available, how justified was this decision? Explain the forces that compelled him to make this decision, and what unknown factors could have swayed his decision one way or another.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 995 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample