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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. How long did it take Cage to read the "Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna"?

2. Cage recalls attending a party where what man leaves the conversation to work in the corner?

3. In "Where Are We Going? And What Are We Doing?" Cage recalls asking if there was music played during meetings of what religion?

4. In "Where Are We Going? And What Are We Doing?" Cage wonders why he ever lost interest in what group?

5. In "45' for a Speaker," Cage compares listening to Christian Wolff's music to suddenly doing what?

Short Essay Questions

1. Where did Cage get the idea to write "Where Are We Going? And What Are We Doing?"

2. Why did Vera Williams' children cry when she served them mushrooms on their steak?

3. How is the essay "Lecture on Nothing" formatted?

4. What does Cage say about error in "45' for a Speaker"?

5. What contributions is painter Robert Rauschenberg known for?

6. What does Cage suggests that Morton Feldman felt about opposites?

7. What does Cage say about the title of his article called "2 Pages, 122 Words on Music and Dance"?

8. What does Cage say about classical ballet?

9. How does the author think music will evolve in regard to percussion instruments?

10. How does Cage say "Where Are We Going? And What Are We Doing?" should be delivered?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

What ideas or people does Cage say inspired him as an artist? What techniques does the author use to convey to the reader that these ideas or people have inspired him? In other sections in Part 1, do you see traces of these influences?

Essay Topic 3

Explore Cage's concern with his own creative process in relation to his concern with what the audience receives? When do you first get a sense of Cage's concern with experimenting with process? What does he seem most concerned with? Why might he feel this way? How does this prioritization relate to his overall non-traditional approach to creating?

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