View a FREE sample

This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is Catherine's explanation as to why she wrote the proof?
(a) She does not claim to have written the proof.
(b) She was so excited about math and life that the ideas could not be stopped.
(c) She was jealous of Robert and vowed that she could come up with something better.
(d) She was depressed because she had to quit school and move home, and decided she could learn the math herself.

2. Where will Catherine live while she is in school?
(a) At home.
(b) Chicago.
(c) New York.
(d) Evanston.

3. What has Catherine missed to come back to the house?
(a) She has missed a class.
(b) She has missed her favorite television program.
(c) She has missed a date.
(d) She has missed a shift at work.

4. Why doesn't Catherine want Hal to take the notebook?
(a) She is upset that he does not believe her, and thinks he will try to steal her proof.
(b) She is upset that he is trying to claim Robert's proof as his own.
(c) She is in love with him and does not want him to leave at all, ever again.
(d) She is in love with him, but angry that is is trying to steal Claire's proof.

5. Why does Claire trust Hal with the object?
(a) She thinks he is an idiot, but not dishonest.
(b) She is in love with him and would believe anything he says.
(c) She cannot trust Robert with the object and Hal is the next best choice.
(d) She has no idea.

6. What does Hal accidentally remind Robert when he says they will meet in a week, on the eleventh?
(a) Today is Claire's birthday.
(b) Today is Catherine's birthday.
(c) Today is Robert's anniversary.
(d) Today is Hal's birthday.

7. Why is Catherine adamant that Robert could not have written the proof?
(a) Because, even during the good year when he was lucid, he was not able to do mathematics.
(b) Because the proof is incorrect and full of errors, and Robert never made errors.
(c) Because, though he asked her to keep his secret, she knows that Hal wrote the proof.
(d) Because she knows that Claire wrote the proof and is keeping it a secret.

8. What else did Hal find in the drawer?
(a) Important legal documents.
(b) Nothing, just the notebook.
(c) Ten more notebooks full of ideas.
(d) Catherine's diary.

9. Who or what interrupts Catherine and Robert's argument?
(a) A phone call.
(b) Hal.
(c) Claire.
(d) Mitch.

10. Why does Catherine claim she wrote the proof in one of Robert's notebook?
(a) She thought she would publish the proof under his name.
(b) She wanted to confuse Hal, with whom she is angry.
(c) She bought the notebooks for him in bulk, and there were extras.
(d) She only writes in certain types of notebooks, which Robert happened to have.

11. Why is Hal skeptical about Catherine's claim?
(a) He thinks Robert may have written the groundbreaking proof, then later explained it to Catherine.
(b) He thinks Catherine is just trying to impress him because they spend the night together.
(c) He has already written the proof, and wonders how she stole his idea.
(d) Robert told him all about the proof before his death.

12. What does Robert compare his creativity to?
(a) Walking down the street.
(b) Falling asleep in bed.
(c) Jumping onto a train.
(d) Sitting on a geyser.

13. In whose notebook is the proof written?
(a) In Hal's notebook.
(b) In Robert's notebook.
(c) In Claire's notebook.
(d) In Catherine's notebook.

14. What does Robert ask Catherine to do?
(a) He asks her to move back home.
(b) He asks her to stay out of his research.
(c) He asks her to work with him.
(d) He asks her to leave him alone.

15. At the end of the scene what doesn't Robert want Catherine to do?
(a) He does not want her to leave.
(b) He does not want her to stay.
(c) He does not want her to go on a walk.
(d) He does not want her to go inside.

Short Answer Questions

1. Where does Catherine reveal she is going to school?

2. Why has Catherine waited so long to inform Robert of her plans?

3. Does Hal believe Catherine could have written the proof?

4. Does Hal think he took advantage of Catherine by sleeping with her?

5. What is she paying for tuition?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 896 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample