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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 the visiting doctor tell the Chief Resident?

2. What is Marion given when he arrives at the hospital?

3. What does Popsy do in the middle of surgery?

4. Why was Ghosh brought to the prison?

5. What did Marion do when Ghosh became ill?

Short Essay Questions

1. Where does Marion go when he arrives in New York and how is he surprised there?

2. How is Marion's life saved after he becomes critically ill?

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

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

5. What does the famous doctor suggest to Deepak?

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

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

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

10. What does Marion do to express his anger towards Stone?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There are a number of interesting questions raised by "Cutting for Stone", questions that Verghese most likely want readers to consider and think through carefully. Discuss the following:

1. What does the term "author agenda" mean?

2. Name one idea/concept you think may have been a part of the Verghese' agenda. Analyze that idea throughout the book and discuss Verghese' probable agenda concerning that idea.

2. Do you think writers who have an agenda for writing should point it out in a preface?

3. How often do you think fiction is written with a clear agenda in mind by the author?

4. Research the life of Verghese and see if/where his life may have influenced his writing.

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

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.

(see the answer keys)

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