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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. According to the narrator in the "28 April 1905" dream, what is visible in all places?

2. How many times do the St. Vincent's Cathedral bells chime at the end of the 24 April 1905 dream?

3. What is time compared to in the "16 April 1905" dream?

4. What kind of person does Besso think Einstein is?

5. According to the "4 May 1905" dream, "If time and the passage of events are the same" what happens to time?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is there no communication between people of the present and people from the future? (16 April 1905)

2. What is the tragedy of the world described in the 10 May 1905 dream?

3. What are the benefits of living in a world in which cause and effect are erratic?

4. Describe how the world is described in the 19 April 1905 dream.

5. Why are some people unhappy in the world where time exists as a circle?

6. What are the benefits of a world in which time is absolute?

7. At the end of the 26 April 1905 dream, what are the negative effects of living in the mountains?

8. What happens when there is only one day until the end of the world?

9. Why does Besso believe that there are problems with Einstein's reasoning behind his creation of a theory of time?

10. What happens one minute before the end of the world?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The end of the novel can be very confusing for some readers. Einstein is said to feel empty after giving his theory to the typist.

- For those readers that were confused by this, discuss why this statement is confusing. What makes you confused about the ending? What could have been done to help you understand the reasoning behind the ending?

- For those readers that were not confused by the ending, discuss the ending for you. Why did ending the novel this way bring closure for you? How did this ending make sense for you as a reader?

Cite specific examples from the text to support your responses.

Essay Topic 2

Answer the following essay question being sure to use at least two examples and fully explaining the reasoning behind your answer:

- What is your least favorite dream from "Einstein's Dreams" and why?

Essay Topic 3

Choose a dream that would be the best and worst match for your life. Write a compare and contrast essay regarding why one best suits you and why the other does not. Cite specific examples from the text to support your responses.

(see the answer keys)

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