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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 when Nikola Tesla visits an official in Washington to offer a robotic invention to the government?

2. In what year is Nikola Tesla born?

3. What profession does Nikola Tesla's father expect him to follow?

4. What does Nikola Tesla ask Westinghouse to do with their royalties agreement?

5. After World War II, much of Nikola Tesla's library materials are shipped where?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Chapter 12, "Robots," why does Nikola Tesla have challenges moving his inventions from his laboratory into working prototypes?

2. In Chapter 3, "Immigrants of Distinction," why is Nikola Tesla's invention of alternating current so important to the world?

3. What potential modern applications does author Margaret Cheney describe for Nikola Tesla's invention of a peculiar and sensitive vacuum tube?

4. In Chapter 3, "Immigrants of Distinction," describe the influence that Charles Bachelor has on Nikola Tesla.

5. In Chapter 11, "To Mars," what patents does Nikola file in November, 1897, and what application do they potentially support?

6. Why does Nikola Tesla become a regular patron at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City in Chapter 8, "High Society"?

7. Nikola produces the first x-ray picture in America. Why does he not commercialize this discovery?

8. In Chapter 9, "High Road, Low Road," Nikola Tesla focuses on the use of alternating current for electricity generation, while his competitor Thomas Edison refuses to endorse anything but direct current. How is the electricity generation business divided in the mid-1890s in Buffalo?

9. In Chapter 5, "The War of the Currents Begins," describe several events that demonstrate that Nikola Tesla's notoriety is growing.

10. In Chapter 4, "At the Court of Mr. Edison," why is the early relationship between Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison strained?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Later in his life, Nikola Tesla becomes enamored with feeding and caring for pigeons in Manhattan. Author Margaret Cheney provides numerous theories that attempt to explain Nikola's attraction and even compulsion for the birds. Describe the various theories mentioned in the book, and explain which theory is the most plausible to you. Why? Finally, discuss your opinion about whether Nikola's love of nursing pigeons has something to do with an attempt to replace the lack of a female marriage partner in his life.

Essay Topic 2

Both Nikola Tesla and Robert Golka carry out their work as "loners", not affiliating with other companies or research colleagues. What challenges do they share because of this way to work? Why do they both eschew control from an outside organization? Was it possible to be successful in the research world without these connections in the times in which Nikola lived? How about today?

Essay Topic 3

In Chapter 7, "Radio," Nikola Tesla encounters many obstacles that prevent him from focusing on his research with radio.

Part 1) Briefly describe his main distractions and identify which distractions present the greatest obstacles to his success.

Part 2) Why does the author state that it is impossible for Nikola to accept Sir William Crook's advice to focus on one single area of research?

(see the answer keys)

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