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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 did VJ get Gephardt to help him do?

2. What previously unknown name does Marsha learn from Philip?

3. What does VJ say he's discovered?

4. How does VJ explain his drop in intelligence at age three?

5. What does Louis Kaspwicz find on Victor's computer?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are Victor's feelings about Marsha's attitude toward what they discover about VJ?

2. What happens to Sharon Carver at the end of Chapter 9?

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

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

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

6. How did Janice feel about VJ?

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

8. What does Victor realize about the threatening attacks on the Frank home by Gephardt?

9. What is Victor's reaction to what Marsha learned from VJ's school?

10. What do Victor and Marsha decide about VJ?

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

The novel is a cautionary tale about scientific research and attempts to portray a story that might happen in the near future. How plausible is the story the novel tells?

1) How plausible is Victor's discovery and his ability to genetically modify human beings? How plausible is what Victor does with that discovery, by implanting modified embryos in three women?

2) How plausible is VJ's story? Are his personality problems plausible outcomes of genetic engineering? Are the secrets he keeps, including his secret lab and connections with Colombian drug dealers, plausible?

3) How plausible is Marsha's awakening realizations about VJ's problems at the age of 10? How plausible are her investigations and what she learns about her son?

4) How does the plausibility affect your experience of the novel and the communication of the author's message?

Essay Topic 3

The novel chooses as its villain a ten-year-old boy, taking advantage of associations of youth with innocence and goodness. Discuss the associations of youth in the novel.

1) What assumptions do people make about VJ because of his age? How does VJ interpret and respond to these assumptions? How does he use them to his advantage?

2) How do Marsha and Victor perceive their son? Why are they seemingly slow to recognize VJ's true character and activities?

3) What does the reader associate with youth and children? How does the author use the reader's assumptions and associations to manipulate and attempt to trick the reader?

(see the answer keys)

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