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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 is the chief of surgery who comes in the room looking for one of the doctors?

2. What does Laura know about Hochberg regarding his interns?

3. Who had ordered that the Smiths' daughter receive no more insulin?

4. What do the men jokingly say that Pete prefers over romance?

5. Why does Barbara come to Ferguson's office?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why has Ferguson decided to go into private practice instead of studying with Hochberg?

2. Describe the romantic conversation between Ferguson and Laura about how much they care for each other.

3. How is Laura's behavior in Act 3 so out of character for her?

4. What does Laura do when Ferguson tells her he had an affair with Barbara?

5. What is the setting of Act 2, Scene 1 and what characters are involved as it begins?

6. How does the author show Hudson's personality type through his actions in the hospital room?

7. How does the author begin to show Laura as a negative force in Ferguson's life?

8. How does the author show that Barbara is enamored with Ferguson?

9. Describe the scenario where Ferguson saves Dorothy in spite of Cunningham.

10. Why do Ferguson and Laura argue on the phone at the beginning of Act 1, Scene 4?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Create a brief character study of Dr. Hochberg. What does he look like? What are his positive personality traits? What are some of his negative characteristics? What are his hopes and fears? What motivates him, if anything, at this point in his life?

Essay Topic 2

Explain the concept of loneliness as it exhibits in the story. Which of the characters are lonely? Are they all lonely in some way? Explain the loneliness and the methods and attempts to overcome it.

Essay Topic 3

The author poses three important topics in the play: abortion, healthcare funding and the relationship between the physician and society. Choose one of the topics and compare and contrast it from the 1930 to modern day America.

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