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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What German-American movement did not survive?
(a) The German-American Freethinker movement.
(b) The German-American Quaker movement.
(c) The Pennsylvania Dutch movement.
(d) The Deutchland movement.

2. How does Vonnegut describe Reagan's and Bush's war experiences?
(a) One experiences warfare in sanitized movies and the other as an aviator who never has to see his victims.
(b) Both had extensive experiences as members of the military.
(c) Neither of them had war experiences.
(d) Reagan was a PFC, as was Vonnegut, and Bush was an aviator and war hero.

3. What does Vonnegut compare to an alcoholic stockbroker not wanting his head in a Port Authority Bus Terminal toilet?
(a) Third World Countries.
(b) Western Civilization builds weapons and convinces civilians to hate groups of humanity, but they do not want big wars.
(c) Mozambicans.
(d) Presidents Bush and Reagan.

4. Those with addiction eventually hit rock bottom. Vonnegut believes Western Civilization hit rock bottom in World War I. Unlike those with addictions who admit that their addiction is ruining their lives, how does Western Civilization react to hitting rock bottom?
(a) It buys more electronic devices to distract itself.
(b) It continues to be ignorant of the disease and continues to allow those who are sick to be kept in positions of power.
(c) It reacts in a similar way to those who are addicted.
(d) It realizes that its addiction is affecting human life, but it does not care.

5. How does Vonnegut's trip to Mozambique make him feel?
(a) Physically drained.
(b) Motivated.
(c) Enthusiastic.
(d) Emotionally empty.

Short Answer Questions

1. After reading William Styron's DARKNESS VISIBLE how does Vonnegut classify those that are suicidal?

2. Vonnegut's 1990 article in the New York Times observes that American humorists/satirists grow to be what past a certain age?

3. What does Vonnegut require of translators?

4. Although people with acute mental disorder are less often written off as hopeless, why is there still a lack of certainty for patients and their families?

5. With whom does Vonnegut travel to Mozambique?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why should many people take offense to privileged Vonnegut?

2. What does the "Kilimanjaro Device" give as an alternative to Hemingway's shooting himself in the head?

3. Why is the Italian translator, Roberta Rambelli, Vonnegut's favorite?

4. What is Vonnegut's opinion on war?

5. What have other cultures done to oppress Germans and those of German descent?

6. How are ex-hippies more scarred than Vietnam veterans?

7. Although the subtitle of SLAUGHTERHOUSE FIVE is "The Children's Crusade," what are the average ages mentioned of those who died in war?

8. How is RENAMO destroying the beautiful country of Mozambique?

9. What are some examples of humorists who have lost their humor after a certain age? How has their humor been lost?

10. Name two things Vonnegut mentions in his letter to the future.

(see the answer keys)

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