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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 Catherine think of Hal the first time they met?

2. What organic chemical(s) is contained in the beauty product Claire wishes Catherine to try?

3. Who is Sophie Germain?

4. Who thinks Robert should have been put in professional care?

5. What has Claire given Catherine to wear to the funeral?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Hal sensitive about getting older?

2. Who did Claire want to care for Robert during his illness, and who actually cared for him?

3. Why is Hal insistent on going through all of Robert's notebooks?

4. How does Catherine describe Robert's mathematical processes?

5. Describe the general mood at the house after Robert's funeral.

6. Describe Catherine's reaction when she discovers the notebook.

7. Does Hal think he will still have the next great mathematical revelation?

8. Why has Hal come to the house?

9. What does Catherine give to Hal that morning? Where has Catherine been keeping the object ?

10. Describe Hal's mood the morning after he and Catherine sleep together.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the significance of students in bookstores for Robert. When does the audience first hear it from Robert? What is the significance of the second time the audience hears Robert talk about students and bookstores? What are the implications for Robert as a teacher?

Essay Topic 2

Hal admits at the end of Act 2 not only that the proof is correct, but that he was wrong and should have believe Catherine the first time. How does this admission vindicate her? She proceeds not to explicitly forgive him, but does agree to sit down and explain the proof. Is this perhaps the first time she has ever had the opportunity to talk to anyone about her work? What fear does she reveal to Hal? What are the implications for the future as she begins to explain the proof to Hal?

Essay Topic 3

What are Catherine's arguments that she wrote the proof? What are Claire's arguments that she did not write the proof? Why is Hal skeptical? What is Catherine's explanation for her advanced understand of mathematics? At the climax of Act 1, Catherine tries to destroy the proof, though it is of extreme mathematical importance and she has poured her heart and soul into it. Why, at that point, is her only option to destroy it? Why does Claire stop her?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 708 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample