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ON THE BEACH by Nevil Shute
The story of the aftermath of an all-out nuclear war. The setting is Australia, one of the few places in the world to escape not only the bombs, put the deadly clouds of radioactive fallout from the war. But they'll only survive for a little while, because the global wind currents are slowly pushing the deadly fallout down to Antarctica. The Aussies only have a short time before they all come down with radiation sickness and die. The whole book is an emotional rollercoaster as the dreaded day of death looms ever closer, with absolutely nothing to prevent doom. Most people are resigned to their fate, and try and stay busy with various daily rituals in an effort to keep their sanity.
ON THE BEACH Requirements:All work must pass with a 75% or better. Each chapter requires a set of answers to the given questions. • The answers need to be written in complete sentences (this means including the questions with in the answers). Each chapter has vocabulary words that have three requirements. • Please read the directions on the vocabulary page. There is a required activity to be done once the book is completed. A Final is required to complete the book requirements. • Please note; all written materials must be done in Word, spell and grammar checked , written in complete sentences (including spelling definitions) and sent in electronically to your teacher. Please save your work frequently and save a copy for yourself.
Chapter One • What is Peter Holmes’ primary occupation? • What did Peter build using the front wheels of two motor bikes? • How long is a round trip into town into Falmouth using the bullock cart? • What is Peter’s new appointment on the USS Scorpion? • What did the periscope head indicate was present just north of Iwo Jima? • What happened as they neared the Phillipines? • What appeared in the crew around the end of eight days? • Describe the chain of events that led to the use of cobalt bombs. • If the second cruise begins in the middle of February, when will Peter be home? • What are two things we know about Mary? • Who are Mr. Farrell, Mr. Lundgren and Dwight Towers? • Why doesn’t the wind blow straight from the Northern to the Southern Hemisphere?
Chapter Two • Where is Peter’s hometown? • Describe the main focus/activity of Moria Davidson’s social and private life? • What was Dwight thinking about throughout the church services? • Who is Mr. J.S. Osborn and what does the J.S. stand for? • What are Osborne’s specific duties? • How is John Osborne related to Moira Davidson? • If the crew cannot go out on deck, how do they check to see if there are any survivors on shore? • How do the men compensate for a lack of sunlight in the submarines? • Moira sees a picture of Sharon on Dwight’s mirror. She knows that he is married, so what clues does the author offer as to why she continues to pursue a relationship with Dwight? 10. What year is it? 11. What is odd about Peter and Mary investing in their planting this autumn? 12. How long was the U.S.S. Swordfish submerged? 13. What are Commander Tower’s orders in regards to helping the people that are still alive in Townsville?
Chapter Three • How many days did the Scorpion stay submerged before surfacing off Sandy Cape? • What signs of life did they see on Green Island? What did they see at Port Darwin? • Has anybody written a history of this war? Why or why not? • How many bombs were dropped, according to seismic records? • Why did they use cobalt? • What did the men guess concerning the main objective/goals of the Chinese-Russian conflict? • Where was the first bomb dropped? • If Canberra officials think now that there might have been a mistake, why didn’t they stop the war at that point? • Has Peter had measles before? What is the incubation period on measles? • What was the parcel that Moira sent Mary through John Osborne? • What was the danger surrounding the waters of New York City? • Briefly describe Dwight’s family. • Why do you think Moira and Dwight carry on about what Dwight Jr. is going to be when he grows up, despite the fact that they already know what their fate is going to be? • Imagine that you are the last politician in Washington after the bombing. What would you do to save your country and its people?
Chapter Four • How much money does Mary think they might be able to save by growing their own vegetable? What is the equivalent in US dollars? • When Moira says that it is crazy for Peter and Mary to be planning a garden ten years into the future, what is Dwight’s response? • From which American city were the mysterious radio signals coming? Does that mean that somebody might still be alive? Why or why not? • What is the last known location (city and country) of Swordfish? • What is significant about Salisbury, Rhodesia? • What is the reference to “etching it on glass?” • What does Sharon’s father do? • What did Moira offer to do for Dwight’s clothes? • Why isn’t it easy to buy a new pair of socks? • What does Moira family do with the sheep they own? • What will be the last territories to be hit by the radiation? • Why do they need to go as far north as Kodiak?
Chapter Five • Why does Peter suddenly feel that it is now urgent that he talk to Mary about the nuclear fallout? • Approximately how long does he estimate a person can survive following first exposure? • What is Mary’s reaction to Peter’s “suicide pill” proposal? • Despite the discussion about the inevitability of death, what activities does Peter perform that make the reader see that he is, again, preparing for a future that may not exist? • Why does John Osborne’s driving his Ferrari on the public roads seem unusual? • How does John compare his job as a scientist to racing? • Out of one hundred and six hours of monitored radio transmissions coming from Seattle, how many words were actually decipherable? What are they? • What has Moira taken up in her spare time for “something to do”? • How long will Peter and Dwight be gone on this next “cruise”? • What item does Dwight buy for his son from the sports store? • Which item is he having difficulty in finding for his daughter? • What does Moira offer in terms of a solution? • What does Dwight do to repay her for her promise?
Chapter Six • How many days did it take for the Scorpion to reach her first objective off the California coast? • Why did they feel it was important to keep the hull submerged? • What did they learn about what had happened in San Francisco? • What kind of explanation do the men have for what could be responsible for the Santa Maria transmissions? • How is the men’s overall health after 11 days at sea? • What were the observations at Edmonds, fifteen miles north of Seattle,? • What did Lieutenant Hirsch report that Yeoman Swain had done? • Do you think the captain really plans on coming back for him that night? Why or why not? • What is Lt. Sunderstrom’s mission on shore? • What was the actual source of the transmission? • What did he notice on the verandah outside the officers’ mess hall? • What were the objects that he tried to smuggle back to the submarine? • Where was the next encounter with Ralph Swain? What were his final thoughts and feelings? • Moira and Mary discuss the silliness of taking shorthand and typing classes in addition to planting daffodils that they will barely be able to enjoy. What is their justification?
Chapter Seven • How has Dwight been feeling since getting back to Williamstown? • Why does Dwight tell Moira that he thinks the doctor is nuts? • What was in the long parcel that Moira gave to Dwight? • Why did John Osborne mention to Peter that the aircraft carrier Sydney has 3,000 gallons of ether-alcohol in storage tanks? • What kind of note did Moira take to the Minister? • Describe the conditions that mark the beginning of July in Melbourne and surrounding areas in Australia. • Where was Peter storing his hidden fuel? • Why were people less interested in receiving their weekly wages? • What is the new location of the Australian Grand Prix this year? • How was the first driver killed? • Of nineteen starters, how many finished the first preliminary race? • What happened to the driver of the Jaguar who offered John a drink before the race? • Which place did John take that earned him a spot in the Grand Prix? • Did Don’s wife blame John for the accident? What did she offer John? • What was the last thing that John and Eddie did before returning to Melboune?
Chapter Eight • In which month were the first few cases of radiation sickness reported in Sydney? • What was wrong with Jennifer on this otherwise beautiful August day? What does Peter think it might be? • Why is this Grand Prix special? • There is a case of radiation sickness in Albury. How close is it to them? • Dwight’s Uncle Douglas might live a few days longer than others, despite serious illness. What is Dwight’s theory on why this might be the case? • Which animal is said to have twice the radiation resistance of a human? • Why did Dwight order the captain of the Swordfish to sink her on the high seas? • Moira says, “I suppose half a loaf is better than no bread when you’re starving.” To what is she referring? • Describe the current condition of the Dwight’s hometown. • What two items did Peter bring back from town for his family? • Why does Peter decide to get Mary an electric mower, even if she will never get the chance to use it? What other lawn and garden item does she request? • Why is Mr. Davidson worried about his beef cattle? • What did Moira and Dwight do for the rest of the weekend? • How did John Osborne do in the Grand Prix? • Describe the mood at this point in the story as the characters prepare for impending doom.
Chapter Nine • What was the nature of the radio announcement made on the day that Peter went to meet Dwight in Melboune? • What are Dwight’s plans for in the Bass Straight? • What does John Osborne’s mother request for lunch? • What percentage of Melboune has been affected by radiation, according to Osbone’s latest report? • What did John find when he returned to his mother’s home? • The pharmacy assistant gives John the suicide pill. What is the nature of the conversation held between the two? Do you think this is appropriate? Realistic? • What was happening Tuesday night at the Holmes’ house? • Mary is singing in the kitchen. Why does she report that she is happy and relieved? • Peter is beginning to feel better, but John reminds him that the effect is only temporary. Why does John’s uncle seem to be in good health? • Where did John decide to end his life? • What did Peter bring home to Mary to brighten her spirits?
Character Analysis • Write a few lines of description on each of the following characters: • Lieutenant Commander Peter Holmes • Mary Holmes • Commander Dwight Towers • Moira Davidson • John Osborne
Choose a project from the Project Table and turn in into your teacher. Please remember that you cannot do a project that you have previously done for another book.
