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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 country did Cage's dad falsely say the family would visit?

2. What genre of art influenced Cage?

3. What female author did Cage ask Dr. Suzuki about at dinner?

4. Who asked Cage to discuss his "Music of Changes"?

5. What grade was Cage in when his dad mentioned a trip to another country, which never happened?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the purpose of the section in "Composition as Process--III: Communication" where the author answers questions with more questions?

2. How does Cage think most people feel about experimentation?

3. How does Cage describe the creation of "Music for Piano"?

4. What advancements in music does Cage attribute to Henry Cowell?

5. How does Cage feel about writing his article about Erik Satie, as portrayed in the article?

6. In the book's Foreword, how does Cage describe the way the writings and lectures in his book are written and presented?

7. Describe what Cage said about the French and the Italians in a conversation he recalls having at a Venetian restaurant.

8. Why did Cage allow his creations to be called "experimental" after once resisting the title?

9. How did painter Willem de Kooning respond when asked what painters of the past had influenced him?

10. How has Cage's process of composition evolved?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explore Cage's use of personal anecdotes throughout the book. What seems to be the purpose of his lecture made up of anecdotes? What reason does Cage give for including it? What purpose do the anecdotes seem to serve in this chapter and throughout the book? How do the anecdotes represent a larger idea about relationships?

Essay Topic 2

Explore the contrast created in Cage's essay which is an imaginary conversation between himself and Erik Satie. Discuss the mathematical presence in Cage's parts in relation to the near-poetic sensibility revealed in Satie's part. Why do you think the author takes this tone for his parts? Do you think he is really so cold about Satie? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Explore Varese's significance in the book. How does Cage characterize Varese's work? Why does he say that he has established the present nature of music? What examples does he present to prove this statement? What does he say to claims that Varese is a figure of the past?

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