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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. In what year did Cage meet Merce Cunningham?

2. In "Where Are We Going? And What Are We Doing?" Cage recalls going to a Candlelight Concert for what holiday?

3. Cage says what kind of music is revolution?

4. Cage and his friend received food and spices from what country?

5. A member of what Greek organization accused Cage of believing art follows science?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What contributions is painter Robert Rauschenberg known for?

3. Describe the process Cage using for writing "45' for a Speaker."

4. What does Cage say about classical ballet?

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

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

7. How did Cage come to be in possession of a coat belonging to Ms. Reis?

8. In the fourth layer of "Where Are We Going? And What Are We Doing?", what does Cage say about moving into the field of experience and being?

9. In the third layer of "Where Are We Going? And What Are We Doing?", what does Cage say about where "we are going"?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How did Cage once feel about being labeled "experimental"? Why did he feel that way? What has he come to realize about the term? How does he feel about the label at the time "Experimental Music" is written?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

What reasons does Cage give for saying America has an intellectual climate suitable for radical experimentation? What does he mean when he says the country knows "nowness"? How does America being a newer country help make it a suitable place for radical experimentation? What ideas does the country tend to reject throughout its history?

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