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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 Chapter 16, who did Susannah think was talking about her?

2. In Chapter 3, how long does it take Angela to walk Susannah home from work?

3. At the end of Chapter 18, what medicine was Susannah given that did not stop her from running up and down the halls?

4. In Chapter 9, what did Dr. Bailey prescribe Susannah?

5. In Chapter 17, where did Susannah say that she belonged?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Chapter 1, how did Susannah describe the Post where she worked and those who worked there?

2. What repetitive movements did Stephen notice Susannah performing toward the end of Chapter 11, and what did those movement turn out to be?

3. In Chapter 7, how did Susannah perceive Times Square when she walked through one March?

4. In Chapter 6, how did Susannah feel as she was going to her interview with Walsh?

5. In Chapter 17, how did Susannah see people changing at the end of the chapter?

6. In Chapter 1, how did Susannah speculate that her illness may have begun?

7. In Chapter 14, what did Susannah say about the seizure she had at NYU and what she remembered from that time?

8. In Chapter 13, how did Susannah act when her father and stepmother wanted her to come home with them?

9. In Chapter 12, what did a technician say about Susannah's EEG, and what did Susannah think of what the tech said?

10. Why was it difficult for Dr. Russo to examine Susannah in Chapter 16?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Susannah told the story from her point of view. How does the point of view determine what readers know about events and people? How did the point of view help readers empathize with Susanna?

Essay Topic 2

When Susannah’s father saw her filthy apartment in Chapter 4, Susannah compared her apartment to her life. How was the apartment a metaphor? What did it symbolize about Susannah’s life?

Essay Topic 3

Susannah wrote the story in Brain on Fire. Why did Susannah write her own story? What did she hope to achieve by writing her story?

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