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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. What does Sacks call his chapters?

2. What percentage of individuals in the old folks home where the main character lives end up using his/her solution to his/her disorder?

3. To what extent is Jimmie G's intelligence impaired?

4. What word does Dr. Sacks use to describe the way the main character feels?

5. For Sacks it is important to treat his patients with:

Short Essay Questions

1. What are Madeline J.'s afflictions? Which one is most frustrating to her and why?

2. What is Natasha K's affliction? What is its cause? How does it affect her? Does she like it or dislike it?

3. What is William's affliction? How does it affect him with Dr. Sacks?

4. What is the source of the twins' ability? How can they lose their ability?

5. What is the main character's disorder? Which capacity does it diminish? Which capacity does it enhance?

6. What disorder to Jimmie have? What is it called? What does it involve? Can patients with this disorder make progress?

7. What is the overall theme of the book?

8. How does Sacks see the relationship between memory and life? How does Sacks see the connection in Jimmie G.?

9. How does Christina cope with her condition?

10. What is Mr. P's affliction? How does it affect his life?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Sacks often tries to argue that science leaves out important facets of his patients' lives. Please select two examples from the book where Sacks does this and then use the examples to discuss what you think the limits of science are in explaining the human experience, using the two cases you selected as illustration. The paper must be four pages, double spaced.

Essay Topic 2

What is retrograde amnesia? What causes it? To what extent can it be cured? How does it often disappear and why?

Essay Topic 3

Madeline's family seems to have prevented her from coming to believe that she could use her hands. How could a family make such an error? Do you think it was deliberate on their part? If it was deliberate, why would they do it? If it wasn't deliberate, why did they make such a mistake? Try to analyze potential family dynamics that could lead to Madeline's false belief about her hands.

(see the answer keys)

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