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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 happens in The Big Board, the novel written by Kilgore Trout?

2. What, according to Paul Lazzaro, is the sweetest thing on Earth?

3. Which Earthling do the Tralfamadorans find the most interesting?

4. What does Bertram Rumfoord tell Lily about Billy?

5. In addition to being Rumfoord's fifth wife, Lily is also. . .

Short Essay Questions

1. What story does Billy Pilgrim tell Montana when she begs him for one?

2. Why is Dresden so dark at night?

3. What is echolalia?

4. How does he explain the symbolism of his armband?

5. What does Howard J. Campbell wear?

6. How does Edgar react when Billy feeds him?

7. Why was the Polish Farm laborer hung in Dresden?

8. How does Billy Pilgrim die?

9. What do the guards realize after they take the American prisoners back to the slaughterhouse?

10. Why were the German guards in Dresden relieved when they saw the American prisoners of war?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Research the life of Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., particularly his experiences during World War II. Write an essay describing how his experiences may have influenced his writing.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay explaining one of more of the symbols in this novel. Choose the symbol you want to comment on from the list below, or come up with your own.

a) Billy's outfit (silver boots, blue toga, fur muff)

b) Landscapes (the Grand Canyon, the Rocky Mountains, Carlsbad Caverns)

c) Death symbols (the coffin-shaped wagon)

d) The souvenirs kept by the Americans after the war.

Essay Topic 3

Compare Tralfamadoran views of life and death with different religious philosophies.

(see the answer keys)

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