L A Q&A
What can you infer about Charlie's abilities and personality after reading the first two
progress reports? - (correct answer)He is an adult, but he thinks and writes like a child.
He is trusting of others. He is superstitious.
What does the last half of the first paragraph for March 7th tell you about Charlie's
desire to change? What is also foreshadowed in these lines? - (correct answer)He
wants to be smart and learn to read and spell well. His increased intelligence may be
only temporary.
Which of Charlie's traits as demonstrated on March 8th convince Dr. Strauss to use him
in the experiment? - (correct answer)Good motivation.
4. What hopes does Charlie have for the operation as written about on March 10th? -
(correct answer)Charlie wants to beat Algernon in the race and be smart like other
people.
5. What does "Progress Report 7 -- mar 19" reveal about Charlie's progress after the
operation? - (correct answer)He shows anger--an emotion he hasn't shown until now.
He is frustrated and impatient.
6. What has begun to change about the way Charlie thinks about his friends at the
factory by the March 25th progress report? - (correct answer)Charlie begins to wonder
why they say "he really pulled a Charlie Gordon," or "What are you trying to be, a
Charlie Gordon?" He doesn't realize the men are laughing at him in a disrespectful way.
7. How does hearing about the party on p. 197 from Charlie's point of view affect your
reactions to his coworkers? - (correct answer)Charlie thinks he is having fun with his
coworkers. He misunderstands their actions. This makes their behavior seem even
more cruel than if we weren't aware of his ignorance.
, 8. In the April 6th progress report, we learn Algernon is a "special mouse." What is the
connection between Charlie and Algernon? - (correct answer)Algernon has had an
operation like Charlie's.
9. What can be inferred about Miss Kinnian from her conversation with Charlie as
recounted in the April 15th progress report? - (correct answer)Miss Kinnian cares about
Charlie. she is upset that the people he thinks are his friends treat him badly and he
doesn't know it. she is also worried about the disillusionment he may experience if he
does become smart enough to understand that the men at the factory are mean to him.
10. Why is Charlie ashamed after the party described in the April 20th entry? Why
wasn't he ashamed after other parties earlier? - (correct answer)He understands his
coworkers' true motivations for the first time. He wasn't ashamed after earlier parties
because he wasn't intelligent enough to understand what they were really doing.
11. Why are Dr. Strauss and Dr. Nemur arguing when Charlie sees them on April 27th? -
(correct answer)They are arguing over the credit for the success of the experiment. If
Dr. Nemur publishes a paper on the experiment at the end of the month he has an
opportunity to be considered for the Chair of Psychology at Princeton. Dr. Strauss wants
to delay publishing a paper to ensure the results of the experiment are accurate. He
also wants more credit as the person actually conducting the experimental surgery than
Dr. Nemur wants to acknowledge.
12. How does Charlie's behavior on his date with Miss Kinnian show how he has
changed? What does he realize afterwards when he returns home? - (correct answer)It
is assumed he is wearing a coat and tie, so he now has the coordination to tie a tie. He
also demonstrates knowledge of social etiquette and behavior between men and
women when he lights her cigarette for her after dinner. He assumes the position of an
equal in their relationship. When he returns home afterwards, he realizes he is in love
with Miss Kinnian.
13. Why do almost all the other workers at Donnegan's sign a petition demanding
Charlie be fired? - (correct answer)He frightens them because he has suddenly become
so smart and they don't know how (he never tells them about his surgery, as per Dr.
What can you infer about Charlie's abilities and personality after reading the first two
progress reports? - (correct answer)He is an adult, but he thinks and writes like a child.
He is trusting of others. He is superstitious.
What does the last half of the first paragraph for March 7th tell you about Charlie's
desire to change? What is also foreshadowed in these lines? - (correct answer)He
wants to be smart and learn to read and spell well. His increased intelligence may be
only temporary.
Which of Charlie's traits as demonstrated on March 8th convince Dr. Strauss to use him
in the experiment? - (correct answer)Good motivation.
4. What hopes does Charlie have for the operation as written about on March 10th? -
(correct answer)Charlie wants to beat Algernon in the race and be smart like other
people.
5. What does "Progress Report 7 -- mar 19" reveal about Charlie's progress after the
operation? - (correct answer)He shows anger--an emotion he hasn't shown until now.
He is frustrated and impatient.
6. What has begun to change about the way Charlie thinks about his friends at the
factory by the March 25th progress report? - (correct answer)Charlie begins to wonder
why they say "he really pulled a Charlie Gordon," or "What are you trying to be, a
Charlie Gordon?" He doesn't realize the men are laughing at him in a disrespectful way.
7. How does hearing about the party on p. 197 from Charlie's point of view affect your
reactions to his coworkers? - (correct answer)Charlie thinks he is having fun with his
coworkers. He misunderstands their actions. This makes their behavior seem even
more cruel than if we weren't aware of his ignorance.
, 8. In the April 6th progress report, we learn Algernon is a "special mouse." What is the
connection between Charlie and Algernon? - (correct answer)Algernon has had an
operation like Charlie's.
9. What can be inferred about Miss Kinnian from her conversation with Charlie as
recounted in the April 15th progress report? - (correct answer)Miss Kinnian cares about
Charlie. she is upset that the people he thinks are his friends treat him badly and he
doesn't know it. she is also worried about the disillusionment he may experience if he
does become smart enough to understand that the men at the factory are mean to him.
10. Why is Charlie ashamed after the party described in the April 20th entry? Why
wasn't he ashamed after other parties earlier? - (correct answer)He understands his
coworkers' true motivations for the first time. He wasn't ashamed after earlier parties
because he wasn't intelligent enough to understand what they were really doing.
11. Why are Dr. Strauss and Dr. Nemur arguing when Charlie sees them on April 27th? -
(correct answer)They are arguing over the credit for the success of the experiment. If
Dr. Nemur publishes a paper on the experiment at the end of the month he has an
opportunity to be considered for the Chair of Psychology at Princeton. Dr. Strauss wants
to delay publishing a paper to ensure the results of the experiment are accurate. He
also wants more credit as the person actually conducting the experimental surgery than
Dr. Nemur wants to acknowledge.
12. How does Charlie's behavior on his date with Miss Kinnian show how he has
changed? What does he realize afterwards when he returns home? - (correct answer)It
is assumed he is wearing a coat and tie, so he now has the coordination to tie a tie. He
also demonstrates knowledge of social etiquette and behavior between men and
women when he lights her cigarette for her after dinner. He assumes the position of an
equal in their relationship. When he returns home afterwards, he realizes he is in love
with Miss Kinnian.
13. Why do almost all the other workers at Donnegan's sign a petition demanding
Charlie be fired? - (correct answer)He frightens them because he has suddenly become
so smart and they don't know how (he never tells them about his surgery, as per Dr.
