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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 is the fan driven in the ventilation shaft of the bomb shelter in Papa Manzano's castle?

2. What word means to acquiesce to the seeming demands of one's "vin-dit"?

3. What is one phrase that "pool-pah" has been translated as in The Books of Bokonon?

4. What is the name of the doctor that has been frozen along with Papa Monzano?

5. Chapter 76 is titled "Julian Castle Agrees with Newt that Everything is" what?

Short Essay Questions

1. What led to the mass suicide of many inhabitants of San Lorenzo?

2. What irony and satire can be seen in the "calypsos" of The Books of Bokonon?

3. How does Mrs. Crosby feel about her circumstances after the destruction of Ice-nine?

4. What is satirical about the "writer's strike" that Philip Castle proposes in Chapter 103?

5. What is ironic about the cleaning process in Chapter 111?

6. Why does Frank Hoenikker solicit John to take the role as President of San Lorenzo?

7. How is the Papa Monzano's bomb shelter described in Chapter 117?

8. What does the narrator comment regarding old men and wars in the novel?

9. What considerations does John have regarding Bokononism as he writes his presidential acceptance speech in Chapter 101?

10. What is the impending celebration for in San Lorenzo when the narrator arrives?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the correlations between Ice-nine and weapons of mass destruction in our contemporary world. How would you compare the destructiveness of Ice-nine to the atomic bomb? What statements do you think that Vonnegut is making with Ice-nine regarding atomic warfare?

Essay Topic 2

Describe and analyze the character of Papa Monzano in the novel. How did Papa Monzano come to power? For how long has he been in power? What characteristics does Papa Monzano exhibit as a character and as a leader?

Essay Topic 3

Describe and discuss the narrative style of Cat's Cradle. From whose perspective is the narrative related? Why do you think the author chose to relate the narrative in this style? How would the narrative differ if it were related from a different narrative perspective?

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This section contains 942 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample