View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How is the dog described that Newt and Frank discuss in Chapter 111?

2. In the excerpt from The Spoon River Anthology, whose hogs are stolen?

3. By what names does the narrator refer to the sun in Chapter 90?

4. What is the name of the U.S. Ambassador that attends John's swearing in ceremony?

5. What does John call the tornadoes he can see filling the sky in Chapter 116?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Philip Castle's implication when he asks John if he sells medicine in Chapter 70?

2. How is Frank's house described by the narrator?

3. How is the theme of inequality of wealth demonstrated in Chapter 62?

4. What causes the contamination of Ice-nine during the celebration in Chapter 115? What happens when Ice-nine is released?

5. Why was Bokononism initially banned? What impact did the ban have on Bokonon?

6. What is remarked about history from Bokonon's writings in Chapter 113? What does this statement mean?

7. What led to the mass suicide of many inhabitants of San Lorenzo?

8. What is done with Dr. Von Koenigswald's body in Chapter 113? Why?

9. What symbolism can be seen in the story of the shipwreck on San Lorenzo that is related by Philip Castle?

10. What does John spend his time doing in his last days after the destruction of Ice-nine?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the correlations between Ice-nine and weapons of mass destruction in our contemporary world. How would you compare the destructiveness of Ice-nine to the atomic bomb? What statements do you think that Vonnegut is making with Ice-nine regarding atomic warfare?

Essay Topic 2

Describe and discuss the history of Bokonon. How did Bokonon end up on San Lorenzo? Who was he with when he arrived? How did Bokonon gain control of the island? What did he institute once he gained control?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the character of John as the protagonist of Cat's Cradle. What attributes does John exhibit that make him a protagonist? Who or what is the antagonist of the narrative? What heroic attributes and tragic flaws are represented by John?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 962 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample