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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. Who does the author have die glamorously in an airplane crash into Mt. Kilimanjaro?

2. Who is Vonnegut's favorite translator, with whom he falls in platonic love?

3. Why are ex-hippies ashamed to belong to their social class?

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. To what does Vonnegut compare Bush's presidential campaign?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What terrible thing happens to sufferers of "Folk Society Deficiency," or FSD? Give an example.

4. Why do the MIT graduates applaud politely but not take Vonnegut seriously?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

Vonnegut believes all writers grow dated.

Part 1) Give a detailed example of proof that this belief could be true.

Part 2) Explain a similarity between Father's architecture career with this belief.

Part 3) How has this belief affected Vonnegut's own writing?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 745 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample