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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 language does the Chinese speaking Caucasian at the Caltech house party think Feynman was using?

2. What is the name of the host of the house party Feynman attends shorty after arriving at Caltech?

3. Why is Feynman invited to Washington, DC by the Secretary of the Army?

4. What does Feynman decide to do about the money from the lecture at the city college?

5. What is the topic of the conference Feynman attends in New York to give a younger perspective on some position papers?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Feynman asked to give a lecture on Mayan math at UCLA?

2. What is Feynman's connection to a Pasadena topless bar?

3. How does Feynman advise students that they can avoid the cargo cult?

4. Why does a group of rabbinical students consult Feynman on scientific matters?

5. Why is Feynman mistaken for a Native American performing a tribal ritual?

6. How does Feynman end up providing a drum soundtrack for ballet competitions?

7. What does Feynman realize when he befriends some Las Vegas showgirls?

8. Who teaches Feynman to have "out of body" experience in the deprivation tank?

9. What is Feynman's experience like when he serves on a committee to choose math textbooks for California?

10. What does Feynman think is the reason Jews are overrepresented in the sciences?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe in detail what aspect of Feynman's life was most surprising and why.

Essay Topic 2

Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman is a collection of colorful anecdotes from the life of this famous physicist. Explain in detail what overall theme emerges from this collection of life stories.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss what Feynman calls his "puzzle drive"--the part of him that longs to find the solution to puzzles. Give three detailed examples of how he uses his "puzzle drive" to solve a problem or make a discovery.

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This section contains 989 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample