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

Short Answer Questions

1. What vital change in the world happened once Sacks moved out of his first hospital room?

2. What concerto did Sacks listen to on a cassette tape?

3. What two sounds was Sacks caught between?

4. How does a person suffering from alienation of a limb think about that part of his body?

5. How did one of the surgical registrars refer to being a patient?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the world of the convalescent home. How did Sacks change and grow stronger here? What did he learn about himself? How did the convalescent home allow him to approach the world again?

Essay Topic 2

"I was rather pleased to be compared with a dog--I much preferred it to being called 'unique.' And it brought home something about the elemental nature of the animal soul and animal motion, and about spontaneity, musicality, animation" (Chapter Six, pg 194). Explain this quote: when was Sacks compared with a dog? When was he referred to as unique? What element of movement and music was contained in this situation?

Essay Topic 3

What role does sight play in Sacks's story? When is his sight best and worst? What affects his sight? How do his eyes serve as symbols of his leg's injury and recovery?

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This section contains 341 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample