If I Forget Thee, O Earth/Silent Spring Quiz

At the beginning of “If I Forget Thee, Oh Earth..., ” how would you describe the atmosphere, or mood, when Marvin and his father travel up to the servicing chamber?

• fearful

• sad

• amusing

• suspenseful

In Arthur C. Clarke’s story, why are the people living in the Colony?

• They lost a war on Earth.

• They prefer the Colony to Earth.

• They crash-landed there while they were on a mission to explore space.

• They cannot live in the Earth’s ruined environment.

Why does Marvin’s father plan the trip Outside?

• He wants to teach Marvin about living in space.

• He wants to pass on to Marvin the dream of returning to Earth.

• He wants to teach Marvin more about the stars and planets.

• He wants to give Marvin a lesson in how to drive a surface vehicle.

Which of the following BEST defines the theme of a literary work?

• paraphrase

• central message

• foreshadowing

• tone

Which of the following BEST states the theme of “If I Forget Thee, Oh Earth... ” ?

• To colonize outer space is challenging.

• Knowledge should be passed down from one generation to the next.

• The Earth must be preserved for future generations.

• Survival in a hostile environment is almost impossible.

In the excerpt from Silent Spring, why are doctors in the town puzzled?

• More children are being born with birth defects.

• People are becoming sick from new kinds of illnesses.

• People are reacting violently to bee stings.

• People are increasingly being bitten by animals.

All of the following statements about theme are accurate EXCEPT one. Which statement is NOT true?

• Works of fiction as well as nonfiction may have a theme.

• In a short story, the theme is usually stated directly, not implied.

• The theme of an essay is often stated directly as the main idea.

• The theme of a literary work is not the same as the work’s subject or topic.

What is the most likely cause of the great changes that happen to the town in Silent Spring?

• pesticides

• floods

• forest fires

• a nuclear bomb

How would you state Rachel Carson’s theme in Silent Spring?

• Wildlife populations should be controlled.

• Tourism cannot be allowed to damage the environment.

• Endangered species deserve our concern.

• People are responsible for damaging the environment.

Which of the following best compares the two selections: “If I Forget Thee, Oh Earth . . .” and the excerpt from Silent Spring?

• Both works make reference to the future.

• Both works focus on the welfare of the Earth.

• The authors of both works use humor to make their central point.

• Both works are examples of fiction.