Cat's Cradle

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.

B) It contains the key to understanding life.

C) It exemplifies the absurdity and deception of life.

D) It reminds him of his deceased pet cat.

7. What ironic twist shapes the colonial history of San Lorenzo?

A) The island has no real value.

B) The island is actually an enormous boat.

C) There is gold on the island, but no one knows where.

D) The inhabitants of the island are eager to be captured.

8. Thinking there is an emergency, Newt and Angela immediately grab their jugs containing ice-nine. This is an example of which literary device?

A) Metaphor

B) Understatement

C) Ellipsis

D) Foreshadowing

9. Why does Bokonon decide to start a religion?

A) He wants to address social and economic problems.

B) He wants to help the people relax and be happy.

C) He wants to prevent ice-nine from destroying the world.

D) He wants to take control of the island from Earl McCabe.

10. What does Frank’s interest in models and ant colonies reveal about his character?

A) He loves to make and give gifts to people.

B) He is more interested in things and systems than in people.

C) He longs to express himself in art.

D) He needs to be in control.

11. When John first meets the Mintons, his attempts to compliment them fall short, demonstrating that:

A) They are not interested in superficial honors or praise.

B) They consider themselves to be above him.

C) They have difficulty understanding him.

D) They are not as good as he thinks they are.

12. How does John’s view of Hoosiers compare with Hazel Crosby’s?

A) They are both enthusiastic.

B) Hazel is enthusiastic; John is indifferent.

C) John is enthusiastic; Hazel is indifferent.

D) Neither is enthusiastic.

13. Which best describes the influences the Crosbys bring to San Lorenzo?

A) Cosmopolitanism and militarism

B) Spiritualism and socialism

C) Americanization and industrialization

D) Pacifism and environmentalism

14. Which is not an element of metafiction found in the text?

A) John’s description of his purpose and process in writing the text

B) John’s use of the manuscript as a part of a symbolic gesture at the novel’s climax

C) John’s geographical description of San Lorenzo

D) The Epigraph’s statement that the book is not true

15. Which best describes the tone of Bokonon’s final advice to John?

A) Bitter

B) Relieved

C) Grateful

D) Disgusted

Long Answer

Compose a response of 2-3 sentences, incorporating text details to support your response.

1. How and why does John convert to Bokononism? Be sure to highlight key turning points.

2. Consider John’s rhetorical purpose in writing Cat’s Cradle: How does he want to change, move, or inspire readers?