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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. The __________ of a migraine aura are something that are short lived, unlike those of an actual seizure, according to Sacks.

2. The man with an extreme aura seems to think he is in _________ when he is actually in New York.

3. The woman that the man thought he was talking to was _______, while it was actually his secretary.

4. Some people ascribe to the idea that a migraine may just be a/an ___________ reaction to the rest of the world.

5. But on the other hand, some feel that those who suffer from migraines might be ____________ to suffer from allergies and motion sickness.

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Sacks have to say are some of the causes of circumstantial migraine, according to the book?

2. How does Sacks propose the genetic link of migraines be tested in order to assure that environmental conditions are not the cause?

3. What is something that Sacks has never seen, but he has heard of in relation to the aura before a migraine?

4. What are the symptoms that the German physician has when he has his migraines?

5. What is the German physician's experience with migraines, according to the beginning of the book?

6. What are the causes of serious losses of fluids during the experience of a migraine, according to Sacks?

7. What did the fifty-three year old female patient say characterized the start of her migraines?

8. What is the problem that Sacks has with saying that migraines can run in families?

9. What is the meaning of aura, as Sacks uses the term in this section?

10. Why do many migraine sufferers tend to rub one side of their head when they are in the midst of a migraine?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

For many people, the idea of a migraine is something they might not ever experience, so this book might be difficult to understand.

Part 1: Why do you think it's important for a book about migraines to be written?

Part 2: Do you think that people who don't suffer from migraines will benefit from this book?

Part 3: How do you think migraine sufferers can benefit from this book?

Essay Topic 2

Some believe that people with a certain 'delicacy or grace' are more prone to suffer from migraines.

Part 1: Does it seem fair to say that certain personalities might have more migraines?

Part 2: How do you think a person's personality might impact the way they are affected by pain?

Part 3: Why do you think migraines seem to affect sensitive people more?

Essay Topic 3

Migraines are conditions that can impact a person for their entire life, without a cure in many cases.

Part 1: Why do you think that migraines impact a person's life so much?

Part 2: Do you think you could manage a condition that has no cure?

Part 3: How do you think a person changes when they have so much pain in their life?

(see the answer keys)

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