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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. In "Where Are We Going? And What Are We Doing?" Cage recalls having an appointment on what day?

2. What is the name of the type of Robert Rauschenberg work that involves multiplicity and cannot be rolled up?

3. "On Robert Rauschenberg, Artist, and His Work" was first published in what city?

4. "Where Are We Going? And What Are We Doing?" is broken up into how many layers?

5. In "Where Are We Going? And What Are We Doing?" Cage recalls asking if there was music played during meetings of what religion?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is the essay "Lecture on Nothing" formatted?

2. What does Cage say about classical ballet?

3. What does Cage say about error in "45' for a Speaker"?

4. What does Cage say about the form of "Where Are We Going? And What Are We Doing?"

5. Describe the process Cage using for writing "45' for a Speaker."

6. How did Cage and David Tudor react when food shipped to them from India came in all mixed up?

7. What does Cage say on the subject of poetry in "Lecture on Nothing"?

8. What happened when Cage attended a party to which he was not invited and asked the hostess for rum to drink?

9. In the fourth layer of "Where Are We Going? And What Are We Doing?", what does Cage say about moving into the field of experience and being?

10. How did Cage come to be in possession of a coat belonging to Ms. Reis?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explore the author's dedication to innovation and change as seen through his layout on the page. What are some of the techniques Cage uses when writing? What different visual styles does he use? Why do you think he does this? What is he trying to say with his non-traditional style of writing?

Essay Topic 2

Explore the author's feelings on the nature of sound. What does Cage say about sound in "Experimental Music: Doctrine"? What does he say about the nature of sound? What does he say about interpreting it?

Essay Topic 3

Explore the significance of the essay on Rauschenberg. Why do you think Cage includes a chapter about a painter in his book which mostly deals with music? What idea does Rauschenberg seem to share with Cage about art and creating it? What does it say about the author that he, as a composer, has similar ideas to a painter? What might this say about his artistic movement as a whole?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 846 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample