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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 do the police believe murdered Gephardt?

2. Why does Victor find it hard to concentrate on his presentation about VJ's work?

3. What does VJ show Victor?

4. Where was the fatal drug likely administered to Maurice and Mark?

5. What is the result of the independent investigation of William Hurst's scientific work?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does VJ let his father out of imprisonment?

2. What happens to Victor when he's searching the clock tower?

3. What does Marsha learn about Richie Blakemore?

4. How did Janice feel about VJ?

5. What does Victor finally admit to his wife in Chapter 9?

6. Describe Marsha and Victor's conflicting views of VJ during Chapter 12.

7. What does Marsha learn about David and VJ's relationship before David died?

8. How much of the secret lab does Victor see?

9. What is the result of Marsha's discussion with her colleagues about VJ during Chapter 9?

10. What information does Kaspwicz uncover hidden on Victor's home computer?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Evaluate the ending of the novel.

1) Why does Victor choose to kill himself in the process of killing VJ? How is this decision appropriate or inappropriate?

2) Does VJ need to be killed? Is a violent death the best, or only, solution to the problem?

3) How is the manner of VJ's death appropriate to the story? What is the author trying to communicate through the manner of VJ's death?

4) What does the epilogue add to the novel? Why does the author introduce another super-intelligent child at the end of the book?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the nature of knowledge in the novel.

1) How do scientists in the novel make discoveries? What are the limitations of their knowledge about what they are doing and the consequences of their actions?

2) What can and cannot be known in the novel? What different types of knowledge are there?

3) What should and should not be known in the novel? Are certain types of knowledge dangerous?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss secretiveness in the novel.

1) What secrets does VJ keep in the novel? Why does VJ keep secrets? Why don't his parents realize what he's doing?

2) What secrets does Victor keep in the novel? Why does he keep these secrets? What would Victor lose or gain by making his discoveries public and being more open about his research?

(see the answer keys)

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