View a FREE sample

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. How does Hal want to check the proof?

3. What does Robert say is finally working again?

4. Whose handwriting does Claire think the proof is written in?

5. Why does Claire resent mathematicians?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why has Robert decided to write on the porch?

2. When did Catherine write the proof?

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

4. What is Robert examining in the proof?

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

6. What do Robert and Catherine decide to do for dinner?

7. Is Robert upset that Catherine plans to leave? Why or why not?

8. How does Catherine get Hal to leave?

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

10. Why is Robert so excited about working?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Claire arranges for Catherine to move to New York, and sells their old house in Chicago.

1.) Is Catherine happy about the move? Why or why not?

2.) Why does Claire sell the house? Why does she make such a huge decision without consulting Catherine?

3.) Does Claire take advantage of the fact that she was the financial support during Robert's illness?

Essay Topic 2

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 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)

This section contains 756 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample