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

2. What is Marion most angry about concerning Genet?

3. How does Shiva die?

4. What does Marion do when Shiva and Genet are talking about sex?

5. What plan does Shiva come up with to save Marion?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Deepak feel about the famous doctor's suggestion and what does Marion learn from Deepak about the doctor?

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

3. Who does Marion meet because of her baby, what does he do with her and what is her response?

4. How does Marion see Tsige again?

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

6. When are the family allowed to visit Ghosh in prison and what does he tell them?

7. What does Marion notice about Ghosh when Marion is in medical school, what does Ghosh tell him and what does Ghosh ask him?

8. What happens when Popsy tries to operate during Marion's first surgery?

9. Who arrives while the family is celebrating Ghosh's return, and what does he do?

10. What is Marion doing about Ghosh being in prison?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Characters are an important part of what makes "Cutting for Stone" interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Thoroughly discuss and analyze Marion. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he always likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

2. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the character of Genet. What are her strengths? Her weaknesses? How does she contribute to the plot? Is she a sympathetic character? Is she ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

3. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the character of Shiva. What are his strengths? His weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

Essay Topic 2

It is highly symbolic that the blood vessels that once connected Shiva and Marion as one body are the ones to explode, ultimately killing Shiva. After Shiva's death, however, Marion feels like order is restored, that he and Shiva truly are one body again, and he even begins using the word "we" instead of "I" in this first-person narration.

1. Discuss in depth the symbolism of the blood vessels that connected Shiva and Marion killing him. Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

2. Do you think Shiva would have undergone the surgery if he had known ahead of time that he would die? Why or why not? Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

3. Marion's attitude towards Genet and his thought that he and his twin are one again following Shiva's death may indicate he has some form of delusional thinking. Discuss the possibilities of this statement. Use examples from the text and your own life to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

Characters are an integral and important part of almost all novels. Discuss the following:

1. Compare/contrast the characters of Marion and Shiva. How are they similar? How are they different? Is there a flaw in each of their personalities? Be specific and give examples.

2. Compare/contrast the characters of Genet and Tsige. How do they seem different? Which do you like more? Why? Which one seems more of a well-rounded character?

3. Thoroughly analyze how three of the secondary characters in "Cutting for Stone" help drive the plot and what their contribution is to the storyline. Are any of the secondary characters unnecessary? Indispensable? Which of the secondary characters are likable? Which are either unlikable or even despicable? Be specific and give examples.

(see the answer keys)

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