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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 does Loomis tell Ann he heard while delirious?

2. What is wrong with Loomis at the opening of Chapter 10?

3. What is Mr. Loomis able to do on the fourth day after he is conscious?

4. What does Mr. Loomis call the table set for dinner by his bedside?

5. What does Ann think about going to get in Ogdentown?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens in the middle of the night that convinces Ann to move out of the house?

2. Why does Mr. Loomis become angry and what does Ann decide to do?

3. What does Ann ask Mr. Loomis to use and what is his response?

4. What routine do Ann and Mr. Loomis follow for the next ten days?

5. What happens when Ann goes back to the farm to speak to Mr. Loomis and what does Ann realize?

6. What does Mr. Loomis say he remembers while delirious?

7. How does Mr. Loomis express his anger and what does Ann do?

8. What does Ann finally piece together about Edward and Loomis?

9. What does Ann discover about the tractor, and what does she do?

10. Why does Ann have to abandon her cave and what does Mr. Loomis do there?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Ann watches the progress of the stranger and begins to worry that it might be someone who means her harm. Ann decides to hide all evidence of her existence by burying her garden and releasing her animals, then climbing up to a cave in the hills over her valley. Discuss the following:

1. Does it seem likely a fifteen-year-old girl would retreat from what is likely the only other human being in her surroundings for miles?

2. If you were Ann, would you adopt the same procedure to observe the person from afar for awhile? Do you think it would occur to you to do this?

3. How likely is it that the approaching human would harm another human who may be his/her only way to interact with someone else?

Essay Topic 2

Many novels, and perhaps a majority, of novels end on a happy note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why not? Do you think Z for Zachariah ends on a happy note? Why or why not?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of Z for Zachariah and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why Z for Zachariah is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Characters are an integral and important part of almost all novels. Discuss the following:

1. Compare/contrast the characters of Ann and Loomis when they first meet. How are they similar? How are they different? Is there a flaw in each of their personalities? How do they compare as to the way they are raised before being chosen? Do you think they are both good people? Why or why not. Be specific and give examples.

2. Compare/contrast the characters of Ann from the beginning of the book to the end. How has she stayed the same? How has she changed? Have the changes been positive? What do you think Ann needs to change about herself to survive her journey?

3. Thoroughly analyze how three of the secondary characters in Z for Zacharia help drive the plot and what their contribution is to the storyline. Are any of the secondary characters unnecessary? Indispensable? Some secondary "characters" to consider are Faro, Radiation, The Valley, and The War.

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