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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. From where does Sister Mary Praise's orders come?

2. How long is Mary Dr. Stone's surgical assistant before she goes into labor to deliver a child?

3. What does Mary Praise do when Dr. Stone seems to be close to death?

4. What does Ghosh fear about Hema?

5. What does Hema think about what is yelled at her?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Hema feel about the twins after she takes them in, and why does she call Ghosh for help?

2. What happens to Dr. Stone after Mary's death?

3. What is Marion's first exposure to violence against a person?

4. Why are Sister Mary and Anjali on a boat,and what happens to some of the people on the boat?

5. What confuses Hema for a moment about Gebrew's message?

6. What incident shapes Shiva to become the doctor he becomes?

7. How does Mary end up at Missing Hospital?

8. What is Marion and Shiva's first experience with someone dying because of not getting medical care soon enough?

9. What do the students do at the beginning of the coup, and how successful are they?

10. What does Hema realize about Mary, and what does Stone do when Mary dies?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Many novels, and perhaps a majority, of novels ends on a happy note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Would you call the ending of "Cutting for Stone" happy? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why not?

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of "Cutting for Stone" and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why the book is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

1. What is foreshadowing? How many incidences of foreshadowing are in "Cutting for Stone"? How does foreshadow contribute to a book's suspense?

2. Discuss an example of foreshadowing in "Cutting for Stone" including why you believe it is an instance of foreshadowing. Include examples from the book and your own life to illustrate your answer.

3. How do you think most people react to uncertainty in their lives? Use examples from "Cutting for Stone" and your own live to support your opinion.

Essay Topic 3

Many readers of fiction place themselves in the position of one character, wondering if they would do the same thing as that character. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think one of the values of literature is to serve as a reflection of oneself? Why or why not?

2. Socrates said "Know thyself." How can reading a book such as "Cutting for Stone" help a reader to know him/herself? Do you find yourself reflecting on your own character and abilities when reading "Cutting for Stone"? Why or why not.

3. Choose one specific incident in "Cutting for Stone" to discuss and compare one of the characters' response to how you think you would respond.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,271 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample