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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. Why is Heisenberg envious of Bohr?

2. How do Bohr and Heisenberg greet each other?

3. When did Heisenberg’s most important visit to Copenhagen take place?

4. What is fired at in fission?

5. With whom did Bohr work that Heisenberg did not?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Heisenberg claim are the differences in torment between Oppenheimer and himself?

2. What were Kramers’ main personality traits, as the play describes them?

3. Why did Fermi go to Chicago?

4. What is the conflict Bohr and Heisenberg have over Gamow and Casimir?

5. What is strange about Schrödinger’s cat?

6. What is the German Cultural Institute?

7. Other than Heisenberg, who is the major German physicist still working in Germany?

8. How does Heisenberg speak about Germany?

9. What is the tone of Bohr’s joke about skiing?

10. What feelings did Heisenberg have towards Kramers?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Bohr and Heisenberg fight throughout the play, but also resolve their differences at various points. What are the issues that lead them into a stalemate? What helps them make up after fighting? Do they ever really resolve any of their issues?

Essay Topic 2

Heisenberg states at various points that he knew how to correctly calculate the uranium needed, but that he didn’t do it. What is the evidence that he knew but didn’t act? What is the evidence that he didn’t know how to calculate the number? How does that change the character and the motives he presents here?

Essay Topic 3

Skiing is used as a metaphor throughout the play. Discuss Heisenberg’s assertion that making no decision would lead to death. What is the significance of “swerving” in the context of Copenhagen?

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This section contains 456 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample