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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 1896 publication is there speculation about Nikola Tesla's status with women?

2. What does Nikola Tesla demonstrate with thousands of high-frequency volts running through his body?

3. At what age does Nikola Tesla take passage on the ship Saturnia?

4. What type of engine does Nikola Tesla invent in Chapter 12, "Robots"?

5. For what does Nikola offer a plan to redesign for Edison?

Short Essay Questions

1. From the book's Introduction, why does Nikola Tesla maintain an intensely private life?

2. In the "Acknowledgements" section, describe the reasons Leland Anderson is interested in Nikola Tesla.

3. In Chapter 13, "Hurler of Lightning," what are some of the effects of Nikola Tesla's experiments with the magnifying oscillator in Colorado Springs?

4. In Chapter 4, "At the Court of Mr. Edison," describe the personality differences between Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla.

5. In Chapter 10, "An Error in Judgment," describe three reasons why Nikola is almost destitute financially.

6. Describe three elements of the friendship between Nikola Tesla and Mr. and Mrs. Robert Wood Johnson.

7. In Chapter 5, "The War of the Currents Begins," why is Nikola Tesla depressed at age thirty?

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

9. What invention does Nikola claim to be useful to send signals to Mars, and why is this possible?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Nikola never profited much financially from any of his inventions, and many were never patented. In addition, many of his ideas were developed decades, or even centuries before science and technology were sufficiently developed to carry the work forward. Choose two of Nikola's inventions, and trace the youth and adult experiences in Nikola's life that contribute to this futuristic outlook. Provide examples in the book that seem to substantiate reasons for his unique ability to see far into the science and technology future.

Essay Topic 2

During his life, Nikola makes many claims regarding the invention of devices designed to protect America during wartime. After his death in 1943, several people attempt to find his research papers, fearing that they may have fallen into the hands of other countries. Based on what you learned about Nikola Tesla in this book, do you think he actually completed any of these projects? Do you believe that he may have provided this information to any other countries, especially given the reluctance of the U.S. government to further them? State and justify your position with examples from the book.

Essay Topic 3

Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison are two men with a shared interest in science, yet cannot be more different in their outlook on life and approaches to their work.

Part 1) How does Nikola Tesla's and Thomas Edison's first meeting in 1884 set the stage for the personality conflicts that follow?

Part 2) Why does Thomas Edison proceed to put Nikola Tesla to work despite his disdain for alternating current?

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