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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How did Daniel have to prove that he had learned Icelandic in four days?
(a) Teach that language to English-speaking people.
(b) Converse only in Icelandic for an entire day.
(c) Make a public speech on the radio.
(d) Speak Icelandic on a televised show.

2. Professor Ramachandran theorizes that language emerged:
(a) Originally from mathematics.
(b) Using visual learning aids.
(c) From an agreement to create neologisms.
(d) From synesthetic connections in the brain.

3. How long is Daniel's challenge in Iceland reduced in time?
(a) To six days.
(b) It is still one week.
(c) To four days.
(d) To one day.

4. What types of words does Daniel find most difficult?
(a) Adjectives.
(b) Adverbs.
(c) Metaphors.
(d) Abstract words.

5. What is the Feynman point in pi?
(a) The decimal places of 999999.
(b) It is pi to 707 decimal points.
(c) Where the digit 9 repeats itself eleven times, with other numbers in between.
(d) It is the last string of digits in pi.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is Daniel's main role as a volunteer in Lithuania?

2. How does Daniel best learn new languages?

3. Why does Daniel's brother, Steven, require a lot of help from his family?

4. What language is Daniel learning when the book is being written?

5. Where is Daniel assigned to go as a volunteer?

Short Essay Questions

1. What aspects of language does Daniel find more difficult than others to understand?

2. Why did Daniel think about creating his own private language when he was young?

3. Scientists are beginning to question whether Daniel's ability with language extends to other forms of language, such as sign language. What happens when he is tested for this?

4. How did Daniel prepare himself for the airplane flight to California?

5. Why did the involvement in a documentary about his story make Daniel think it was the opportunity of a lifetime?

6. Why do you think the woman who interviewed Daniel at the Volunteer Services Overseas office might have thought he was a perfect candidate to teach English overseas?

7. Why did Daniel spend his first weekend in Kaunas inside his new apartment?

8. Why did Daniel end up walking up the steep hill of Volunteer Ave. on his commute to the Volunteer Center?

9. Describe Daniel's state of mind as he recited pi for an audience for more than five hours.

10. What were some of the biggest concerns about Daniel's involvement with the documentary and how did he overcome them?

(see the answer keys)

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