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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. What Christmas carol do the "girls" of Dr. Breed's office sing in Chapter 20?

2. What business did Emily Hoenikker's father own?

3. What is the title of Chapter 9?

4. In what fraternity was the narrator a member during his college years?

5. How tall does Newt Hoenikker claim to be in his letter to John?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the narrator describe San Lorenzo's attempt at communism in the narrative?

2. What statements does the author make about nihilism in Chapter 36?

3. What does John discover about San Lorenzo from the advertising supplement in the newspaper in Chapter 37?

4. How is Bokonon's history and arrival at San Lorenzo described in Chapter 48?

5. What symbolism can be seen in the graves of Emily and Felix Hoenikker?

6. What is the significance of the literary/religious allusion in the opening of Chapter 1?

7. How does Bokononism influence the language style of the novel?

8. How is the character of Sherman Krebbs used as a means to satire in the novel?

9. What statement do you think that Vonnegut is making in regards to politics and science in Cat's Cradle?

10. What is significant about the stone angel monument at the sales room in Ilium?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss Vonnegut's use of irony in Cat's Cradle. What are examples of verbal, dramatic, and situational irony in the novel? What purpose does each example serve? How is irony related to satire?

Essay Topic 2

Describe the book The Day the World Ended. What was this book initially to be about? What does it end up being about? What irony can be seen in this book and its title?

Essay Topic 3

Describe and analyze the character of Dr. Felix Hoenikker. What role did Hoenikker play in the development of the atomic bomb? Where did he work at the time? How are his relationships with family and coworkers described in the narrative?

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