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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. After Roy resigns as boss hunter in Chapter 11, who does Grant appoint as his replacement?

2. What unusual sight do Rod and his companions see on Cliff's farm, in Chapter 15?

3. As Chapter 14 opens, how old is Carmen and Bob's baby?

4. During the wedding at the beginning of Chapter 11, what instrument does Caroline play?

5. What sort of writing does the historian use for taking notes, that Grant cannot read?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens to Grant during the dopey joes' aggressive period?

2. Why, according to Caroline, is Carmen unable to relocate to a new place?

3. Who becomes the first elected mayor of the student settlement in Chapter 8?

4. Why are Rod and Roy slow to return from their expedition?

5. In Chapter 9 how does Grant use the wedding of Bob and Carmen to his advantage?

6. What vote do the students make while Rod is recovering from the dopey joe attack?

7. When rescuers arrive, who is the only student who refuses to return home?

8. What two characters on Earth were married while Rod and his friends are stranded on the unknown planet?

9. What creature attacks Roy, surprising him?

10. The first part of Chapter 11 is told from whose point of view?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Consider the numerous marriages that take place during "Tunnel in the Sky." What qualities draw these couples together? Why is marriage considered so important in the students' settlement? How does Grant use wedding ceremonies to his advantage, while serving as mayor? Why does Rod never seem to consider finding a wife?

Essay Topic 2

What do the cliff dwellings discovered by Rod and Roy in Chapter 11 signify? What does the beach of bones discovered by the same two characters signify? How do the two characters react to their discoveries? How do the beach of bones and they cliff dwellings amplify the sense of abandonment felt by the students on the unknown planet?

Essay Topic 3

What is the primary role of Jimmy in the novel? Is his comic relief a comfort to the other students? How does the character of Jimmy grow from the beginning of the novel, when he nearly skips the final survival exam due to fear, to the end of the novel, when he is a solid husband and father?

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