View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Vonnegut never think he owes to himself or the world?

2. How do the Freethinkers behave?

3. Why are certain words in Rait's limerick replaced with the sound "dah" when recited on the BBC?

4. What does Dr. Robert Redfield insist every society passes through?

5. Where does Vonnegut meet his first wife?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How has Vonnegut's belief in the cause of mental illness changed since the beginning of the book? Why?

3. How is Vonnegut different from other authors mentioned in this chapter?

4. What are two reasons Vonnegut is skeptical of Christianity?

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

6. Why does Vonnegut believe Alcoholics Anonymous is the U.S.'s most nurturing contribution to planetary culture?

7. How does Jane Cox deal with her loneliness when her children are grown and move out?

8. What does Vonnegut mean when he tells the MIT graduates that they have the power to turn loose or reign in enormous forces?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Today's rulers are doing nothing to Nature's stern but reasonable surrender terms.

Part 1) Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not?

Part 2) What efforts do you make to help the planet?

Part 3) How do you see our planet in 1,000 years?

Essay Topic 2

Writing books is like any other job, according to Vonnegut.

Part 1) Why does Vonnegut think writing is no more special than any other job?

Part 2) Would you be okay with doing a job that was not important or special to you? Why or why not?

Part 3) Do you find any jobs to be more important or more satisfying than others? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

Vonnegut says he does not care if he is remembered when he dies.

Part 1) What examples of authors does he give who do want to be remembered?

Part 2) Compare and contrast the reasons why Vonnegut and other writers may or may not want to be remembered.

Part 3) Do you want to be remembered when you die? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 784 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample