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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. How do Neil and Daniel try to encourage their cat, Jay, to learn social skills and become more approachable?

2. Whose photo does Daniel keep on the dresser in his kitchen?

3. Why did Daniel decide to publicly recite as many digits in the number pi as he could to beat a record?

4. Where does the name "pi" come from?

5. How does Daniel view a sequence of numbers in his head?

Short Essay Questions

1. During his training for Volunteer Services, what were the main learning goals for Daniel and the class?

2. Why did Daniel spend his first weekend in Kaunas inside his new apartment?

3. How is Daniel's partner, Neil, similar to Daniel?

4. What were some of the biggest concerns about Daniel's involvement with the documentary and how did he overcome them?

5. Why did the scientists in California ask if Daniel could visit with them longer?

6. Why did Daniel end up walking up the steep hill of Volunteer Ave. on his commute to the Volunteer Center?

7. Scientists are beginning to question whether Daniel's ability with language extends to other forms of language, such as sign language. What happens when he is tested for this?

8. Describe Daniel's state of mind as he recited pi for an audience for more than five hours.

9. Why do you think the woman who interviewed Daniel at the Volunteer Services Overseas office might have thought he was a perfect candidate to teach English overseas?

10. Why is Icelandic considered to be such a difficult language to learn?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does Daniel's volunteer experience in Lithuania ultimately affect his life? How does he have an effect on other's lives there?

Essay Topic 2

Daniel states in his book that his parents are his heroes. Discuss why he would make that statement. What did his parents do for him?

Essay Topic 3

Daniel experiences numbers and language synesthetically.

1) Describe what synesthesia is.

2) Explain some ways in which Daniel experiences synesthesia.

3) How is this different from the way the average person perceives numbers and words?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 934 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample