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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 says, "Never before did I realize that mental illness could have the aspect of power, power"?

2. Does Nurse Ratched punish McMurphy for the glass incident?

3. Who has a date with Candy Starr, as arranged by McMurphy?

4. Who 'accidentally' throws the basketball through the nurse's window, breaking it for the third time?

5. Who is the night warden?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does McMurphy do to Chief Bromden that makes the Chief upset about McMurphy always 'winning things'?

2. What does McMurphy receive from the doctor?

3. What does the nurse do when the basketball 'accidentally' breaks the nurse's station window again?

4. What does McMurphy ask of Chief Broom as they are sharing stories of their lives?

5. What does McMurphy do when the night attendants come to Chief Broom's bed?

6. What does McMurphy tell Billy he needs to send to Candy for her trip to see him?

7. What has Chief Bromden been believing about McMurphy?

8. What are some of the ways that the men begin to bond together during the fishing trip?

9. What does Chief Broom do to help save McMurphy from his new vegetative state?

10. What does Nurse Ratched finally do in order to begin to topple the reign of McMurphy?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The patients of the ward all seem to have their own troubles and issues, but as a whole, they don't seem to be an unhappy bunch. Or do they? What signs do you see that point to the well being of the characters in this book? Which characters are more well adjusted than others? Why do you say this? Which characters are the least well adjusted? Why do you say this?

Essay Topic 2

Chief Bromden doesn't realize just how big he is because of others in his life making him feel small. By the end of the book, do you feel Chief Bromden realizes his size? Why or why not? In what other ways does the Chief feel bigger? What actions demonstrate the way Chief's perception of himself and of his life has changed from the beginning of the novel?

Essay Topic 3

Chief Bromden is an interesting character in this story. Not only has he been in the ward for a long time, but he is also the one responsible for narrating the story. Pretending to be deaf and mute, he has access to more information than the other characters in the story. Why do you think Chief Broom, as he comes to be known, has pretended for so long? Why does he feel safe talking to McMurphy eventually? Do you think the staff knew of his charade? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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