The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

Why are Henrietta Lacks' cells commonly used in laboratory experiments.

• they reproduce very quickly

• they were healthy

• they didn't reproduce

• they were cheap to use

Where does the author first learn about Henrietta?

• from a documentary

• from a science teacher

• from a movie program

• fom a textbook

In the sentence, "Scientists had been trying to keep human cells alive in culture for decades, but they all eventually died," the term "in culture" most likely means what?

• the act of giving a a living organism the appreciation of culture

• the customary beliefs and practices of a society

• the act of keeping bacteria or cells alive in a laboratory environment.

• none of the above

Based on what we know of the author, with which statement would Rebecca Skloot most likely agree with?

• It was important to get Deborah's help to be able to write about Henrietta.

• Henrietta's cells have not been as important to to medicine as other cells.

• Scientists were justified in taking Henrietta's cells.

• Henrietta's tribute to science was already well known.

Which phrase supports the conclusion that Henrietta didn't want to impose on others.

• "She simply went on with her day as if nothing had happened" (Skloot 26).

• "You better take me to the doctor." I'm bleedin and it ain't my time" (Skloot 15).

• "Then he told Henrietta to go home" (Skloot 17).

• "Henrietta and the cousins would help unhitch the horses and fill their troughs with grain" (Skloot 21).

Why would the author describe the anatomy of a cell with the following metaphor, "The cytoplasm buzzes like a New York City street."

• she has been to New York and likes how busy it is

• help the reader understand that the cytoplasm makes a noise like a "buzz"

• help the reader understand how busy the cytoplasm is with an understandable comparison

• there was no specific reasoning for this description

What does the author mean when she writes, "Gey hired Mary for her hands."

• Gey likes the size and shape of Mary's hands

• Mary is able to work well with her hands and can do the job well.

• Gey wanted Mary's hands for his own

• Gey expected Mary to use her hands