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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 Marion do when he's not working at connecting with Ghosh in prison?

2. Why is the Chief Resident anxious to impress the visiting doctor?

3. What does Marion do when he gets well?

4. What does Marion do at Stone's apartment?

5. Why are most of the doctors at Marion's hospital foreign?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Stone say is the reason he never returned to Africa to claim his children?

2. How does Marion find out about Shiva's sex life, and what does Shiva tell him when confronted about it?

3. What does Marion and Hema find in Rosina's bungalow when they go there after hearing noises?

4. What do the nurses ask Marion to do when Popsy enters the operating room?

5. What does Stone tell Marion about how he ended up in Africa?

6. What does Stone do after Marion lets him know how he feels?

7. How does Marion find out that Genet is in America?

8. How does Marion see Tsige again?

9. Why is Genet in America, and why does Marion not beat her?

10. Why does Rosina attack Marion, and what does he realize about Genet then?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The meeting of Genet and Marion is complex and confusing. It is unclear whether or not Genet spitefully and knowingly infected Marion with the diseases that would threaten his life, or if it is an unexpected and unfortunate side effect of a lifelong obsession. Marion's time with Genet is also disturbing because he essentially rapes Genet in his bed, forcefully having sex with her, ripping through her circumcision scars. He doesn't seem to care that Genet is bleeding all over his bed, or that he is hurting her, because he is finally claiming what he believes is his. Despite his violent reintroduction to Genet, Marion cannot stop the fantasy of being with Genet forever.

1. Do you think, knowing Genet's character, it is likely she knowingly infected Marion? Why or why not? What do you think would be her motivation for consciously infecting him? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

2. Do you think Marion's treatment of Genet was rape? Why or why not? Would you consider it a criminal act, if not outright rape? Why or why not? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

3. Discuss the problem Marion has perceiving reality in relation to Genet when he still thinks about marrying her and being with her for the rest of his life. Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze the theme of growth in "Cutting for Stone". Consider the following questions as you write: What characters are most concerned with growth? Why? What are some symbols of growth? Symbols of rigidity? What characters seem rigid?

2. Trace and analyze the theme of courage in "Cutting for Stone". Which characters struggle with this issue? Why? Which characters seem to possess courage? Why?

3. Trace and analyze the theme of death in "Cutting for Stone". Consider the death of Mike as an random act of nature, and the death of Luis as the result of conscious violence. Consider also in your answer the death of innocence in Rick from the beginning of the book to the end.

Essay Topic 3

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.

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