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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. "Part 4: Prevention Is the Cure" begins with a quote from who?

2. By the early _________, cancer researchers had split into three feuding camps.

3. The conference determined that lung cancer could be caused by what?

4. As of 2009, patients diagnosed with CML lived an average of _______ years.

5. The ____________ theory developed by Varmus and Bishop provided the first comprehensive theory of carcinogenesis.

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. What is the significance of the SRC gene?

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

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

7. What problems could arise with genetic engineering?

8. What was STAMP? How did this bring hope to those who suffered from cancer?

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

10. What was the oncomouse? Was this successful? Why or why not?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Mukherjee discusses the history of cancer.

Part 1) When was the finding and study of cancer first seen? How is this surprising? Why might knowledge and/or discussion of cancer stopped after this period of time? Did cancer still exist? Why or why not?

Part 2) What are two other times in history when the study of cancer took place? What did doctors and scientists know about cancer at that time? On what information was this knowledge based? How accurate was this knowledge?

Part 3) What is known about cancer today? How much of our knowledge today is based on previous knowledge? How important is cancer history to the study of cancer today? Why? How is history, in general, important to us today?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Cancer is not the only disease discussed in this book.

Part 1) What are two other diseases discussed in this book? Describe these two diseases. What is the purpose of having these diseases discussed in this book?

Part 2) How do these diseases compare to cancer? Which disease do you find to be the most threatening to the American people? Why?

Part 3) What similarities can be found among various diseases including all that are discussed in this book? How is this important?

(see the answer keys)

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