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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What kind of person does Besso think Einstein is?

2. According to the dream on "24 April 1905," what happens when the two "times" meet?

3. What happens to light in the "14 May 1905" dreams?

4. What happens one month before the end of the world?

5. What did Einstein's theory of time begin as?

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain what the following statement means: Each time is true, but the truths are not the same.

2. Why does Besso think that Einstein is capable of anything?

3. What are the benefits of living in a world in which cause and effect are erratic?

4. What effect does height have in the 26 April 1905 dream?

5. At the end of the 26 April 1905 dream, what are the negative effects of living in the mountains?

6. Why is there no communication between people of the present and people from the future? (16 April 1905)

7. How can one identify people who have been transported back in time? (16 April 1905)

8. What is the tragedy of the world described in the 10 May 1905 dream?

9. What happens to travelers as they enter the world described in the 14 May 1905 dream?

10. What do the untidy people of the 11 May 1905 world do in life?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Choose a representation of time from the novel and examine why it is not a realistic representation of time. Cite specific examples from the text to support your responses as to why this "world" is the most unrealistic from the novel.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the formatting of the novel. Choose one of the following prompts discussing the formatting of the novel:

- Were you confused by the dates of the chapters and the meaning behind them?

- When did you realize the chapters were describing dreams and not realities for the novel?

- Why do you believe that readers are not given more information on Einstein himself about the movement of the novel?

- Do you think that this adds to the flow of the novel or hinders the flow of it?

- What relevance does Besso play in the novel?

- Why does the reader see more of his thoughts than Einstein's?

Cite specific examples from the text to support your responses.

Essay Topic 3

Given that this novel is written by someone other than Einstein, do you believe that the author was working out a theory of his own and used Einstein as a muse? What would support your standing? Cite specific examples from the text to support your responses.

(see the answer keys)

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