English 113
Z for Zachariah: Questions for study on Chapters 1 - 10
Chapter 1:
1. Why is Ann alone?
2. What has happened to the rest of her family?
3. Why is she afraid of someone finding her?
4. What do you think happened to the person on the radio?
5. Write a paragraph on the following, and hand it in when complete: What would you do if you thought you were the only person left in the whole world? How would you feel? What would you do differently from Ann?
Chapter 2:
6. What three things did Ann do to make the valley appear as if no one lived there?
7. Why is she unsure of the date?
8. Why does she take the rifle with her?
9. Why do you think the man is wearing a green plastic suit?
10. What would you do if you found your self in Ann's position and why would you make these choices?
12. Write a paragraph to hand in describing as completely as possible the protagonist of the novel. Make sure to mention at least 5 points.
Chapter 3:
13. Why is the man so happy to have found the valley?
14. Explain why you think Ann doesn't answer when the man yells, "Anybody here?".
15. Describe the man.
16. Why was swimming in the creek such a mistake?
17. Write a paragraph that summarizes the major events of this chapter.
Chapter 4:
18. Who did Faro belong to?
19. Why did Faro return?
20. What did the man do to try and make friends with the dog?
21. What realization do you think the man made on page 39?
22. Explain what caused the man's illness.
Chapter 5:
23. What does Ann do to try to help the man?
24. Despite being so careful thus far, why did the man not check the water before he went swimming?
25. What does Ann discover is wrong with the water?
26. What will happen to the man if he lives through his illness?
27. Why do you think Ann didn't ask the man his name?
Chapter 6:
28. What did Loomis do before the war?
29. Why is he now feeling better?
30. Why wasn't the valley destroyed by radiation?
31. What invention was John working on before the war?
32. Who was Edward? Why did Loomis look sick when asked about Edward?
33. Do you believe Loomis's story about Edward? Why or why not?
Chapter 7:
34. Why did Ann want to make the garden bigger?
35. What idea does Loomis have to make the gardening easier?
36. Why do you think Loomis said, "This is the best evening I ever spent"?
37. What does Ann read in the Bible Letter Book that is important? What does she say it means?
38. Based on what we learn from Loomis's dream, write a paragraph that explains what happened between him and Edward.
Chapter 8:
39. Why did Ann decide to pick greens for a salad?
40. What idea does Loomis have to improve life in the valley?
41. What does Ann learn Loomis has never done?
42. What does Loomis study at the end of this chapter.
43. In a paragraph to hand in, summarize Ann's thoughts about Loomis and their future together.
Chapter 9:
44. How did Ann learn to operate the pump manually?
45. How much gasoline do they have?
46. How did Ann learn to drive the tractor?
47. What are Ann's plans for the empty field?
48. What is significant about the poem Ann recites?
49. Write the two lines from the poem on your paper. Now write the lines Ann likes into your own, easy-to-understand, words. Hand this in.
Chapter 10:
50. Name two things Ann does to help Loomis.
51. What does Ann tell Loomis she wished she had done.
52. Why was Loomis outside with a rifle?
53. Why is Loomis hallucinating?
54. If Edward was his friend, why do you think Loomis wants to shoot him?
Explain or define the following.
1. a thin column of smoke for three days
2. Ogdentown
3. Joseph
4. the Teacher's College in Dean Town
5. Klein's store
6. Burden Hill
7. the Amish
8. David
9. minnows in the pond
10. a Geiger counter
11. "green plastic stuff"
12. the cave
13. chicken soup
14. anemia
15. The Farm Mechanic
16. Handle "H"