99 pages 3 hours read

Kurt Vonnegut Jr.

Cat's Cradle

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1963

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Exam Questions

Multiple Choice and Long Answer questions create ideal opportunities for whole-book review, unit exam, or summative assessments.

Multiple Choice

1. How do Newt’s feelings about his father differ from Angela’s?

A) Newt reveres Dr. Hoenikker while Angela fears him.

B) Newt hates Dr. Hoenikker while Angela reveres him.

C) Newt fears Dr. Hoenikker while Angela hates him.

D) Newt misses Dr. Hoenikker while Angela hardly remembers him.

2. How would Dr. Breed most likely respond, if he were to encounter Bokononism?

A) He would embrace it.

B) He would hesitate, then accept it.

C) He would dismiss it as baseless superstition.

D) He would try to take Bokonon’s place as leader.

3. Which subplot satirizes the Cold War arms race?

A) John’s courtship of Mona

B) The Hoenikker children’s use of ice-nine

C) Newt’s attempts at painting

D) Emily Hoenikker’s affair with Dr. Breed

4. How does Dr. Breed respond to John’s assertion that his research company is immoral?

A) He explains that they pursue knowledge for its own sake, independent of morality.

B) He admits that John has a point and promises to pass along his feedback.

C) He laughs and walks away.

D) He argues that morality is subjective, not absolute.

5. Which character does John not identify as belonging to his karass?

A) Frank Hoenikker

B) Lyman Enders Knowles

C) Sherman Krebbs

D)  Claire Minton

6. Which of the following best describes the significance of the cat’s cradle string figure to Newt?

A) It draws out his playful nature.

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