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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. Rebecca Skloot states in Part Three: Immortality, Chapter 24 that a search of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office database shows how many patents involving HeLa cells?

2. On what date did Rebecca Skloot meet Deborah in order to see Henrietta Lacks's cells?

3. Who was the judge that oversaw John Moore's initial case against UCLA?

4. What is the name of Deborah Lacks's daughter?

5. In what year did Bobbette Lacks discover the truth about HeLa cells and their connection to Henrietta Lacks?

Short Essay Questions

1. What did Cousin Gary do in order to calm down Deborah in Part Three: Immortality – Chapter 35?

2. What are the two main points of controversy regarding tissue research, according to the author in the Afterword?

3. What statement does Rebecca Skloot make about the legality of Johns Hopkins' actions in Henrietta's case in the Afterword?

4. What did Deborah discover during her visit to her doctor after she returned from her research travels with Rebecca Skloot in 2001?

5. How does the author describe the development of tissue research today? What are tissue samples used for?

6. What treatment did John Moore receive from the medical center at UCLA?

7. Why did Deborah Lacks fail to attend the Foundation for Cancer Research's event dedicated to her mother in Part Three: Immortality – Chapter 37?

8. How did Deborah's behavior change after her visit to Crownsville with Rebecca?

9. How did Bobbette Lacks respond when she discovered the history of HeLa cells?

10. What statement did Susan Hsu make about her interactions with the Lacks family when she was interviewed by Rebecca Skloot?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the case of Ted Slavin. What discovery did Ted Slavin make regarding his cells? Who assisted Ted Slavin in his endeavors? How did Slavin's situation differ from that of Henrietta Lacks?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the narrative and language styles seen in The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. How does the narrative shift in the course of the book? How does the dialogue in the narrative differ from the language style of the author? What literary devices are employed the most in the story?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the impacts of HeLa cells on Deborah Lacks. What misinformation caused Deborah to become paranoid when working with author Rebecca Skloot? Were Deborah's fears justified? Why or why not?

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