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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. By 1993, Slamon's early phase clinical trials had become a hot topic among ____________ cancer patients.

2. In 1976, a company named _____________ (Genetic Engineering Technology) was formed in San Francisco.

3. In _________, Percival Pott began to notice a shocking increase in the number of patients that suffered from scrotal cancer.

4. It was determined that a DNA copy of virus' genes could do what?

5. The ____________________ refers to something that moves incessantly but never gets anywhere.

Short Essay Questions

1. Mukherjee discusses the successes of others in this story. Why does he credit the survival of patients to the work of those in the 1950s and 1960s?

2. Who was Einar Gustafson? How is this significant?

3. What is the role of a laboratory scientist? What type of people are suited for this work?

4. Why did doctors dismiss the cancer found in chimney sweeps? How did cancer continue to be dismissed by others throughout time?

5. What is the role of a clinician? What type of people are suited for this work?

6. What problems could arise with genetic engineering?

7. Who were epidemiologists?

8. What is the oncogene theory?

9. Why did the author end the book with Germaine's story? Is this a good ending? Why or why not?

10. What is meant by a "Risky Prediction?"

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

John Bennett was a Scottish physician in the 1800s.

Part 1) What discovery did he make? What were his assumptions about this discovery? Why might he have come to this conclusion? How was he wrong?

Part 2) Describe the work of Rudolf Virchow. How did his studies and conclusions compare to Bennett's? How did this affect what is known about cancer and specifically leukemia? How had knowledge of cancer developed up to this point? What important studies and cases led to the naming of leukemia in 1847?

Part 3) How did studies after the 1840s lead to even more understanding of cancer and specifically leukemia? Has this led to a significant amount of success? Why or why not? Has cancer research seen as much success as other areas of medical study? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

In 1968, Farber celebrated the 21st anniversary of the Jimmy Fund.

Part 1) What was the Jimmy Fund? How was the fact it had celebrated its 21st anniversary important? Who was Jimmy? How is his life significant to the study of cancer?

Part 2) What is also significant about what is known about his reasons for survival? What does this also say about cancer and cancer research?

Part 3) What other celebrities are found in this book? Who became a celebrity because of cancer? Why? How did this affect cancer research and the public's support of cancer research? How are celebrities today still important to various medical organizations? Why?

Essay Topic 3

Mukherjee ends the book with the tale of Germaine.

Part 1) What is this tale? Who was Germaine? How is this story important to the book? Why might the author end with this story?

Part 2) What does this story say about the author's view of cancer? Is he as optimistic as James Watson? Why or why not?

Part 3) Do you agree with the author's view of cancer? Why or why not? How does this ending affect your feelings towards this book? How does this affect the ultimate mood of the book? Was this a good way to end the book? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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