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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. How many digits of pi was Daniel able to recite to beat the record?

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

3. When Daniel is interrupted during the interview with a question, what is his first reaction?

4. Why doesn't Daniel take notes during his training?

5. What was Daniel's mood like on the flight to California?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is Daniel's partner, Neil, similar to Daniel?

2. When Daniel goes on an interview for a library position, why does he most likely not get the job?

3. What is Daniel's relationship with words?

4. Why is Icelandic considered to be such a difficult language to learn?

5. Why did Daniel's travels and meetings during the making of Brainman and his appearances on television give him such a feeling of elation?

6. What had Daniel learned during his year in Kaunas?

7. How is Daniel's method of memorizing the digits of pi different from most other people's methods?

8. 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?

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

10. Why did the scientists in California ask if Daniel could visit with them longer?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Consider Daniel's imaginary friend, Anne.

1) Why did he need to make her and others up in his mind?

2) How real does it seem that they appear to be to him?

3) Why does he have Anne leave him and say she is dying?

Essay Topic 2

Daniel meeting Kim Peek can perhaps be compared to Bob Dylan meeting the Beatles for the first time. Kim does not converse much, but based on what he does say and his actions, what does he think about his meeting with Daniel? Are they equally impressed with one another?

Essay Topic 3

Daniel states in his book that his parents are his heroes. Discuss why he would make that statement. What did his parents do for him?

(see the answer keys)

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