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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 does Nurse Ratched put away at the end of the meeting?

2. What does Nurse Ratched remind McMurphy of?

3. For whom did Chief Bromden's father make the decision he did in #65?

4. What takes place over the course of a few days in the ward?

5. What does the staff call McMurphy?

Short Essay Questions

1. When Nurse Ratched tells McMurphy that he can not wear a towel when walking around in the ward, what does McMurphy do?

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

3. What does McMurphy see as his ticket out of the mental ward?

4. What causes Nurse Ratched to fly into a rage at the start of the novel?

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

6. 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?

7. What is the most surprising thing that McMurphy learns as they are waiting to be tested for TB?

8. How could Billy Bibbit be described?

9. How will the men be punished for the rebellious behavior they exhibited during the World Series?

10. How could the patients of the ward be described?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Harding is the character in the story that seems to be the most well-adjusted, aside from McMurphy. So, why do you think he is in the ward to begin with? Is he hiding from his wife or is he genuinely trying to change himself? Why do you think he has so many troubles with his wife in the first place? Why do you think Harding married his wife?

Essay Topic 2

McMurphy is accused of always 'winning things' as Chief Bromden puts it. What do you think this means to the other patients and to Chief Bromden? What are some of the things that McMurphy 'wins' on the ward? What are some of the things that McMurphy loses? Is it fair for McMurphy to be thought of as someone who is manipulating others? 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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