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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 drug does Abbott say helps him to think about philosophical matters?

2. What is the name of the prison system Solzyhenitsyn exposed?

3. What does Abbot say Americans love?

4. What does Abbott say he can't understand about Gilmore?

5. What do the guards claim happened to Blackie?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did Blackie try to expose the prison system?

2. Why does Abbott think Vietnam veterans should feel shame for their part in the Vietnam War?

3. Why does Abbott consider Alexander Solzhenitsyn a traitor?

4. What does Abbott believe is his higher calling?

5. What is Abbott's opinion on religion?

6. How does Abbott link prejudice to testing?

7. What does Abbott say about Stendhal's novel, THE RED AND THE BLACK?

8. Why does Abbott say he supports Communism?

9. What does Abbott say about American justice?

10. Why does Abbott think Gilmore feels guilty about his crimes?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why did so many people in American prisons take up the principles of Communism? How did the Communists take adavantage of this?

Essay Topic 2

Examine the author's writing style. How would you describe the author's prose style? What kind of vocabulary does he use? What meaning does the author's style give to the story?

Essay Topic 3

What are Abbott's political beliefs and how do you think these beliefs developed? Considering he has spent all his life in prison, how legitimate are Abbott's beliefs?

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