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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 have the police discovered has been threatening the Franks?

2. What does VJ say he's discovered?

3. What does Marsha learn about VJ's school attendance from his principal?

4. What does VJ show his parents in a secret area of his lab?

5. Whose medical records does Marsha look up at the hospital?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do the police do about the dead body Marsha finds when she arrives home?

2. What seems to have prompted VJ to stop going to daycare?

3. Why did VJ want to appear to be less intelligent?

4. How does Marsha's conversation with Philip at the beginning of Chapter 12 end?

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

6. What do Victor and Marsha decide about VJ?

7. How did Janice feel about VJ?

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

9. What does Victor think about as he drives to work at the beginning of Chapter 9?

10. What conclusion does Marsha form about the security employees at VJ's lab?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the idea in the novel of special privilege for the gifted.

1) Why does Victor believe that VJ should have special privileges? What special privileges does Victor want for VJ?

2) Why does Marsha disagree with Victor about special privileges for VJ, and to what extent? What are Marsha's arguments?

3) What does the author imply about the danger of special privileges for the gifted?

Essay Topic 2

Describe the genre of the novel.

1) In what ways is Mutation a thriller? How does it utilize elements of the thriller genre?

2) In what ways is Mutation a science fiction novel? How does it utilize elements of the science fiction genre?

3) What other genre elements, such as horror, are found in the novel? How do the elements of different genres work together, and what do they add to the novel?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 625 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample