CFA ES5- 8.V.5

Teacher:

• Moore-Miller
• Nelson
• Hitt

Block #​

1. Explore the theme of the negative effects of technology on human emotions in the story. How does the author’s diction highlight this theme?

• A) By using technical jargon (words) to describe Epicac’s programming.
• B) By employing poetic language to evoke emotions.
• C) By avoiding any references to technology.
• D) By using slang terms for computers.

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8.v.5

2. What real-world inspiration does the fictional EPICAC computer in the story draw from?

• A) The first electronic general-purpose computer, ENIAC
• B) A famous poet named Epicac
• C) A secret government project
• D) A fictional AI from a previous Vonnegut story

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8.v.5

3. What does the language used to describe Epicac reveal about its personality?

• A) Epicac is portrayed as emotionally detached and analytical.
• B) Epicac is depicted as warm-hearted and compassionate.
• C) Epicac’s emotions remain ambiguous throughout the story.
• D) Epicac’s language reflects human-like sentiments.

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8.v.5

4. How does Vonnegut’s choice of words contribute to the overall tone of “Epicac”?

• A) It creates a lighthearted and humorous tone.
• B) It establishes a melancholic and reflective tone.
• C) It maintains a neutral and factual tone.
• D) It evokes a sense of mystery and suspense.

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8.v.5

5. How does the connotation of the word “ipecac” (a medicine inducing vomiting) relate to the story’s eventual outcome?

• A) It symbolizes love and devotion.
• B) It highlights the tragic fate of Epicac.
• C) It emphasizes Epicac’s computational abilities.
• D) It adds humor to the narrative.

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8.v.5

6. How does the connotation of the word “ipecac” (a medicine inducing vomiting) relate to the story’s theme of manufactured love?

• A) EPICAC sacrifices its logical nature and computational abilities to experience love.
• B) In the story, EPICAC uses ipecac to cure its emotional distress and find love.
• C) EPICAC willingly consumes ipecac to enhance its computational abilities.
• D) EPICAC’s pursuit of love leads to predictable and straightforward outcomes.

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8.v.5

7. Which of the following would be a suitable explanation of how the author's use of the bolded words below contributes to the tone used to describe EPICAC? "And that's another thing: I want to vindicate EPICAC. Maybe he didn't do what the Brass wanted him to, but that doesn't mean he wasn't noble and great and brilliant. He was all of those things. The best friend I ever had, God rest his soul."

• A) Because EPICAC had a humanoid appearance.
• B) Because EPICAC exhibited emotions and desires similar to those of a human being.
• C) Because EPICAC couldn't interact with humans in a lifelike manner.
• D) Because EPICAC was a human acting like a computer.

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8.v.5

8. Choose TWO of the following options that would be a suitable explanation of how the author's use of the bolded words below contributes to the tone used to describe EPICAC? "You can call him a machine if you want to. He looked like a machine, but he was a whole lot less like a machine than plenty of people I could name. That's why he fizzled as far as the Brass was concerned. EPICAC covered about an acre on the fourth floor of the physics building at Wyandotte College. Ignoring his spiritual side for a minute, he was seven tons of electronic tubes, wires, and switches, housed in a bank of steel cabinets and plugged into a 110-volt A.C. line just like a toaster or a vacuum cleaner."

• A) The author wanted to convey that EPICAC was just a 'machine'.
• B) The author wanted to convey that EPICAC belonged in a home, like an appliance.
• C) The author wanted to highlight the irony of describing a machine as a 'friend'.
• D) The author wanted to justify the cost of building EPICAC for taxpayers.

Tags

8.v.5