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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. At 15, Walter and Eliza pretend to feel what for their presents?

2. What are the Chinese researching as Wilbur and Eliza work with Dr. Cordiner?

3. What do Melody and Isadore dream of becoming?

4. What do Wilbur and Eliza demand of Dr. Cordiner?

5. At what age do Wilbur and Eliza realize their parents have mistreated them?

Short Essay Questions

1. When Wilbur is older, he reads reports written by Dr. Mott regarding Wilbur and Eliza. What type of information do these reports contain?

2. Why do Wilbur and Eliza pretend to be idiots while growing up?

3. While Wilbur excels in school, what happens to Eliza?

4. Once Eliza is out of the institution, what is her opinion of Wilbur?

5. When their father seems conflicted about their intelligence, how do Wilbur and Eliza react?

6. What is Wilbur doing at the beginning of Slapstick: Or, Lonesome No More!?

7. Following her stay in the mental institution, what does Eliza think of the United States?

8. What physical discovery have the Chinese made by Wilbur's 15th birthday?

9. Why does Dr. Cordiner get angry at Wilbur and Eliza?

10. Who is Kurt Vonnegut honoring when he begins his novel with "To Whom it May Concern"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Throughout the novel, the Chinese create inventions that could help Wilbur and Eliza resolve many of their physical and personal issues. These inventions are mentioned in passing. Select a moment in the text where one of these inventions are mentioned and analyze what this invention could resolve for Wilbur or Eliza.

Essay Topic 2

Witnessing Dr. Cordiner's treatment of her children, Letitia acts like a mother for the first time. Write a brief essay examining Letitia's overall behavior as a mother and this momentary transformation.

Essay Topic 3

Compare and contrast the childhood of Kurt Vonnegut and Wilbur.

1) What are the similarities?

2) What are the differences?

3) Why might the author have chosen to work with these particular themes?

(see the answer keys)

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