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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. Who is allowed to be the meetings with the staff?

2. What is another name Chief Bromden uses for Nurse Ratched?

3. Does McMurphy move the item in #40 as he says he can?

4. Who are those who still have hope of being cured in the mental hospital?

5. Who is the subject of the group meeting?

Short Essay Questions

1. What changes McMurphy's mind about the way he has been acting on the ward?

2. What does Nurse Ratched do during this meeting that unnerves the other people in the room?

3. What do the patients do when Nurse Ratched tells them to get away from the TV?

4. Why does the shaving of his head upset Chief Bromden?

5. How could Billy Bibbit be described?

6. What does Harding's wife do when she comes to visit?

7. After Nurse Ratched tells the men about their punishment (as described in the answer to #28), what does McMurphy declare out loud?

8. Why does Chief Bromden understand the sudden shift in McMurphy's behavior?

9. Why is Chief Bromden allowed to be in the meeting room when Nurse Ratched and the other members of the medical team are having a meeting?

10. When McMurphy tries to get the men to agree to watch the World Series, the second vote yields more votes than the first, but why isn't it valid, according to Nurse Ratched?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

This novel is often seen as a scathing review of mental health in the United States, and in this sense, it's quite timeless. Though facilities have changed, do you think this novel presents an accurate representation of mental health facilities today? Why or why not? What things seem like they would never happen in today's world? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Randle McMurphy comes into the ward like a madman - which is interesting enough, given the circumstances. However, he's not crazy, at least, the reader isn't lead to believe so. However, at times, it does seem like he is someone that could benefit from therapy and even medications. Do you think McMurphy should be in the ward? Why or why not? Do you feel he needs professional help? Why or why not? Do you think McMurphy believes he needs any help at all? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

The story of McMurphy's childhood years shows the reader that he was not always as strong as he now is, that he had to learn that the only person who would take care of him was himself. Do you agree with this statement? Do you think this is a healthy mental state to live in or an unhealthy mindset? Why or why not? If McMurphy hadn't been ignored as a child, do you think he would have figured out the lesson on his own? Or do people need something horrible to happen before they can learn some lessons? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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