Name:__________________________________ Class/Hour:____________________ Date:_____________________________

Science Fiction Unit Assessment

1. Which of the following statements best describes the purpose of science fiction as a
genre?
a. to entertain readers while also exploring the possible consequences of
scientific or technological discoveries and their impacts
b. to persuade readers to think a particular way about the effects that scientific
advancement can have on society
c. to thoroughly inform readers about a certain scientific topic
d. to call in to question a scientific topic explored within the story

2. Often times, the genres of science fiction and fantasy are referenced together as if
they were the same. This thinking is flawed. Explain how science fiction and fantasy
differ as genres. (2 points)










Read the following excerpts and answer the questions that follow.

From All Summer in a Day by Ray Bradbury

"Ready?"
"Ready."
"Now?"
"Soon."
"Do the scientists really know? Will it happen today, will it?"
"Look, look; see for yourself!"
The children pressed to each other like so many roses, so many weeds, intermixed, peering
out for a look at the hidden sun.
It rained.
It had been raining for seven years; thousands upon thousands of days compounded and
filled from one end to the other with rain, with the drum and gush of water, with the sweet crystal
fall of showers and the concussion of storms so heavy they were tidal waves come over the
islands. A thousand forests had been crushed under the rain and grown up a thousand times to
be crushed again. And this was the way life was forever on the planet Venus, and this was the
schoolroom of the children of the rocket men and women who had come to a raining world to
set up civilization and live out their lives.

3. What about the setting qualifies All Summer in a Day to be a piece of science
fiction? (2 points)




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4. According to the scientific knowledge of today, how is the setting of All Summer in
a Day a possibility in the future?
a. The setting shows a terrain that humans have already explored and scientists
of today have now deemed safe for habitation.
b. The setting shows a habitat that can be accessed for possible habitation with
improved space travel and exploration.
c. The setting shows that there is too much water on Venus for humans to live
on, so only fish can live there.
d. The setting shows a utopian society where everything is perfect on the
planet.

From Once Upon a Lightyear by Robert Moons

Notruhk, could you please come up here and read your son a bedtime story! his wife
shouted.
Her husband had fallen asleep with his head inside the holosphere entertainment unit again.
Yes, dear coming, he managed to blurt out in a groggy daze, not quite sure what was going
on. Last he remembered, he was watching a sector level gnilruc game. No wonder he fell
asleep. A gnilruc game is just a little more exciting than watching vegetation grow in slow
motion.
He got up; shuffled his four feet up the white stone ramp and into his son's nest chamber.
Read me a story, daddy! his son shouted gleefully as his antennae made little circular
motions of excitement.
OK, OK, calm down and let me think... What story haven't I read you yet? Have I read you
Golden mandibles and the three Xoak grubs?
Yes.
How about The three tiny crustaceans?
Yes, two times.
What about The swamp-fly who cried arachnid? that's a good one.
Daaaaad, you read that to me a mega-qua-zillion times! his son threw his claws in the air in
frustration.

5. What qualifies Once upon a Lightyear as a piece of science fiction? Be sure to use
at least one example from the text to support your answer. (2 points)










6. Re-read the underlined portion of the story. Using the information provided in the
story and your own prior knowledge, what can you infer is available today that is
most comparable to a holosphere entertainment unit?
a. a CD player
b. a T.V.
c. a telephone
d. a videogame



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From My War Against the Invisibles by Jeffery Scott Sims

The invaders had come, invisible ones that dropped out of the sky into mens minds,
occupied a corner of their brains, dictated orders. They wanted something done, commanded
it done, saw to it that it was done. Those who wouldnt or couldnt work died in odd and
unpleasant fashions. The surviving folks were being forced to build something, out of the
available materials, a kind of manufacturing plant. He didnt tell me what it was for. Shortly he
couldnt tell me much at all. His hand squirmed, and I saw that it wasnt covered by a mitten; his
hand was a furry thing, an eyeless animal attached to his wrist with a nasty toothy mouth, and it
was eating into him. He told me weakly that, unlike most, hed resisted the sinister spell, so the
Invisibles-- that was his word-- willed this creature to his hand, just made it happen like magic.
Then the mouth gnawed into a vital spot, blood spurted, the man collapsed. Thats how he met
his end.

7. What element of science fiction is evident in My War Against the Invisibles? Be
sure to support your answer with evidence from the text. (2 points)










From The Fleet of the Moons Library by Joshua Kemp

It was 2023 before we, Humanity, set up a sustainable base on the surface of the moon.
When I think of all that we learned from the libraries, it seems insane that it took so long. Once
we got up there, once we started roaming around, beyond a few hop skips and jumps, thats
when we found it; The Library.

8. What two details of the setting of The Fleet of the Moons Library demonstrate
elements of science fiction? (2 points)



















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Synopsis of Divergent by Veronica Roth

In Beatrice Priors life in Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the
cultivation of a particular virtue--Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless
(the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of
every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of
their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she
really is--she cant have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including
herself.

9. According to the synopsis of Divergent, how does Chicagos society reflect the
science fiction genre?
a. Its dystopian in nature; it has a social/political system unlike ours in many
ways.
b. It includes the presence of aliens, unrealistic characters that dont actually
exist.
c. It includes advanced technology that has not yet been invented, but is not
improbable.
d. Its society exists on a planet other than Earth.

10. Briefly add a conclusion to the synopsis of Divergent by telling what faction Beatrice
chooses (you will not be graded on which one you choose). Include details in your
conclusion that reflect at least one element of science fiction. Refer to the rubric on
the next page. (5 points)























11. What element of science fiction did you include? (1 point)




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Rubric for Question 10

Element 3 Advanced 2 On Target 1 Novice 0 Not Included
Science
Fiction
Elements
The writing:
Clearly reflects
one new element
of science fiction.
The writing:
Reflects one
element of science
fiction.
The writing:
Loosely reflects
an element of
science fiction.
The writing:
Does not reflect
an element of
science fiction.
Fictional
Content
The writing:
Continues and
finishes the
synopsis
appropriately
and completely.
The writing:
Continues the
synopsis
appropriately.
The writing:
Does not
appropriately
continue the
synopsis.
The writing:
Is completely
irrelevant to the
context of the
provided
synopsis.
Grammar and
Mechanics
The writing:
Uses mostly
correct grammar,
spelling, and
punctuation that
moves the reader
easily through
the text.
The writing:
Includes some
grammar,
spelling, and
punctuation
errors, but it does
not impede the
understanding of
the text.
The writing:
Demonstrates
little attention to
grammar,
spelling, and
punctuation
errors make the
text difficult to
read.
The writing:
Was not written,
or does not show
any attention to
grammar and
punctuation.