1) Why is it ironic that Hall is the one to make the highway diagnosis
and prevent the nuclear device from detonating?
2) What is Leavitt's problem and why does he keep it a secret?
3) What moral dilemma do the scientists face concerning the destruction
of the Andromeda strain?
4) Since the scientists are not able to destroy the Andomeda Strain in
Piedmont, why does it not infect other nearby towns?
5) What major error does Burton commit while working with the coagulated rats?
6) How does the Andromeda strain escape from the space capsule and infect
Piedmont?
7) Why do Officer Willis and other people in Piedmont shown signs of insanity
after being infected with Andromeda Strain?
8) What is the highway diagnosis?
9) Why do the scientists not learn about the President's decision not
to drop the bomb for a few days?
10) What happens inside the Phantom cockpit to make the plane crash?
1) Crichton writes the novel as if he were re-telling an actual biological
disaster that happed in the U.S. Throughout the book, what examples can
you find where he foreshadows the tragedy that could occur?
2) Is The Andromeda Strain an example of how man put
too much faith in technology to solve his problems? If so, list examples
from the novel where the sophisticated machinery causes the scientists
to become overconfident.
3) Despite the state of the art technological facility in which the team works,
each of the scientists introduces the element of human error through their
own weaknesses. What weaknesses do the team members have and what effect
does it have on the project?
4) What is ironic about Stone's opinion of Hall's ability to contribute to
the Wildfire project?
5) How does The Andromeda Strain reflect the anti-military
sentiment in the United States during the late 1960's?
6) Use examples from the novel to argue whether scientists should have
more or less control of policy-making in the event of a national crisis.
7) How would you describe Crichton's style in this novel? Explain how the
style contributes to the overall tone of the book.
8) Are the scientists more interested in the fame that will result from their
discoveries than they are in finding a cure that will help people? Explain.
9) Who is ultimately responsible for the tragedy at Piedmont? The army? The
scientists? The doctor who opens the capsule? Support your answer with
examples from the book.
10) Explain Montaigne's comment: Men under stress are fools, and fool themselves.
How does this apply to The Andromeda Strain?
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