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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 does Hal have to give to Robert?

2. Why does Robert yell at Catherine?

3. What does Robert insist on, though it is freezing cold outside?

4. What are the subjects of the proof?

5. How much of Robert's ability does Claire think Catherine has inherited?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why was Hal the first person to whom Catherine showed the proof?

2. What does Claire think is the problem with mathematicians in emotional situations?

3. Why is Claire worried about Catherine?

4. How does Catherine get Hal to leave?

5. How does Catherine meet Hal?

6. Is Hal personally conflicted about taking the notebook?

7. Why or why not does Catherine want to attend the University of Chicago?

8. How does Catherine react when Claire and Hal do not believe her?

9. What decision has Catherine made about school?

10. Did Hal intentionally take advantage of Catherine when they slept together?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Claire says that mathematician don't think: they just create catastrophes and expect other people to come in and clean them up.

1.) How is this true of Robert? Of Hal? Of Catherine?

2.) Does Claire feel she is cleaning up Hal's mess? Robert's mess?

3.) Does Claire feel that Robert should have been in professional care? How would this have changed events in the play?

Essay Topic 2

After the funeral, Catherine and Hal spend the night together.

1.) What are the factors that bring them together?

2.) How are they each tied to the memory of Robert? Is Catherine warding off the pain by succumbing to something physical?

3.) Who is the aggressor? Are they equally attracted to each other?

Essay Topic 3

Catherine is a complex character: for a young person, she has held an extraordinary amount of responsibility. However, according to her sister Claire, Catherine now cannot take care of herself.

1.) Cite three instances in the text where Claire's argument can be made, and Catherine's behavior is reprehensible.

2.) Is Claire justified in stepping into Catherine's life? In selling the house? In moving Catherine to New York?

3.) Is Claire trying to help Catherine out of a sense of sisterly love, or misplaced guilt over Robert's death?

(see the answer keys)

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