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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. On the last day of their time as a solid unit, the group began to do what?

2. The author compares the cure for cancer to the story of whom?

3. The theory showed how soot, radiation, cigarette smoke and other outside insults could cause cancer by doing what?

4. Susan Sontag is diagnosed with cancer. She begins to notices parallels between cancer and what other disease?

5. In Spring 2005, Mukherjee had to make a decision. What was this decision?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Genentech? How is this company important?

2. What are the similarities between AIDS and cancer? Is this important? Why or why not?

3. What is the Red Queen Syndrome?

4. Who was Oscar Auerbach? What role did he play in connecting lung cancer to tobacco? Was he a good choice? Why or why not?

5. How does the cure for cancer parallel the story of Achilles?

6. Who were virologists?

7. How did the tide begin to turn regarding Americans' view smoking?

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

9. What are two reasons why studies into the connection between lung cancer and tobacco were inconclusive?

10. Why was Phyllis Clauson at first not believed? Is this surprising? Why or why not?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Farber created a society to raise funds for cancer research.

Part 1) Describe the work of this society. Who was involved? How did cancer research benefit from this society? What events led to changes in the work of this society?

Part 2) What other organizations are discussed in this book? How have they been important to the study of various diseases? At what times have these various organizations worked together? How did they benefit from these collaborations?

Part 3) If you were to join an organization, which one would you join? Why would you join this organization? In which ways could you help this organization raise funds?

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

Mukherjee decides to be a clinician.

Part 1) What leads him to be a clinician rather than a laboratory scientist? How does this decision link him to Sidney Farber? What other similarities exist between these two men?

Part 2) What role have each of these men played in the study of and battle against cancer? How have they each influenced the lives of those suffering from cancer?

Part 3) What type of person might be suited for work as a clinician? What strengths must someone have? Why? What type of person would be better suited for laboratory work? Why?

(see the answer keys)

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