Slaughterhouse Five Chapter 9 Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What kind of car was Valencia driving when she got in her accident?

Cadillac El Dorado Coupe de Ville.

What caused Valencia's car accident?

She was crying and sobbing trying to get to the hospital because she thought Billy was dying after the plane crash. She missed the turn off and slammed on the brakes and got hit from behind.

What kind of car hit Valencia?

Mercedes

What did Valencia do right after the car accident?

She drove off in the damaged car with no exhaust system and the mufflers were gone. Signup and view all the answers

How did Valencia die?

By carbon monoxide because of the damage to the car. Signup and view all the answers

Who was Bertram Copeland Rumfoord?

A Harvard history professor and Billy's roommate in the hospital. Signup and view all the answers

What quote does Rumfoord say about Billy?

"I could carve a better man out of a banana." Roosevelt. Signup and view all the answers

In the book, The Destruction of Dresden, what does the forward state?

The bombing of Dresden was a great tragedy but a military necessity. Signup and view all the answers

What does the old man in the waiting room suffer from?

Gas Signup and view all the answers

What does Professor Rumfoord think the hospital should do with Billy?

Let him die. Signup and view all the answers

What is Rumfoord talking to his wife about?

The bombing of Dresden Signup and view all the answers

What disease does Rumfoord believe Billy to have?

Echolalia. Signup and view all the answers

What does Billy want Rumfoord to know that Rumfoord won't believe?

That Billy was at Dresden during the bombing. Signup and view all the answers

How did Billy and the other American prisoners travel back to the Slaughterhouse to find souvenirs of the war?

In a coffin-shaped green wagon pulled by two horses. Signup and view all the answers

How did Billy feel as he rode in the wagon?

Happy, well-fed, and warm. Signup and view all the answers

Where did Billy find the gun and saber he is carrying with him?

The gun he found in a bedside table in an abandoned house and the saber he found in a telephone pole. Signup and view all the answers

What profession were the German husband and wife that came upon Billy in the wagon?

Doctors, obstetricians. Signup and view all the answers

Why were the Germans husband and wife upset when they came upon Billy?

The horses pulling the wagon were severely injured with bleeding mouths and broken hooves that made walking painful for them. Signup and view all the answers

What did Billy do when he finally noticed the condition of the horses?

He burst into tears. Signup and view all the answers

Why did Rumfoord suddenly become interested in Billy?

He finally believed Billy was at Dresden during the bombing. Signup and view all the answers

What was the name of the freighter that Billy took home from the war?

The Lucretia A. Mott. Signup and view all the answers

What is Billy's reaction after Rumfoord tells Billy the bombing of Dresden had to be done?

It was alright. Everything is alright and everybody has to do exactly what he does. Signup and view all the answers

Where does Billy escape to once he is home from the hospital?

New York City where he hoped to appear on television. Signup and view all the answers

Why did Billy want to get on the air?

He wanted to tell the world about the lessons of Tralfamadore. Signup and view all the answers

What hotel did Billy check into in New York?

The Royalton Hotel on forty-fourth street. Signup and view all the answers

Who once occupied Billy's hotel room?

The critic and editor, George Jean Nathan. Signup and view all the answers

What kind of store does Billy go into while walking in Times Square?

A tawdry bookstore. Signup and view all the answers

What does Billy see in the window of the bookstore?

Four paperback novels by Kilgore Trout. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Kilgore Trout book named The Big Board about?

An Earthling man and woman who were kidnapped by extra terrestrials. They were put on display in a zoo on a planet called Zircon-212. Signup and view all the answers

What did the Earthlings trapped in the zoo do to pass the time?

Invested in the stock market and prayed. Signup and view all the answers

Kilgore Trout had a second book in the bookstore. What was this one about?

About a man who built a time machine and went back to see a twelve-year-old Jesus build a crucifix with his father who was a carpenter. Signup and view all the answers

What did the girly magazine cover say?

"What really became of Montana Wildhack?" A magazine called the Midnight Pussycat. Signup and view all the answers

What was Montana Wildhack doing in the movie?

Alone on a bed, peeling a banana. Signup and view all the answers

What picture did the clerk show Billy behind the counter?

A photo of a woman and a Shetland pony attempting to have sex. Signup and view all the answers

What was Billy supposed to talk about on the radio station?

Whether or not the novel was dead. Signup and view all the answers

Where did Billy say he was from to get on the radio?

The Ilium Gazette. Signup and view all the answers

What did Billy finally talk about on the radio?

Flying saucers and Montana Wildhack. Signup and view all the answers

Where did Billy travel to after the radio station?

Back to Tralfamadore. Signup and view all the answers

What does Montana tell Billy that the Tralfamdorians are doing with the time?

They're playing with the clocks again. Go fast, go slow and go fast again. Signup and view all the answers

What did the silver chain around Montana's neck say?

A locket, on one side a photo of her alcoholic mom and the other side an engraving saying "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom always to tell the difference." Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Car Accident Details

Valencia drove a Cadillac El Dorado Coupe de Ville during her tragic accident.
The accident occurred as she was distraught, trying to reach the hospital for Billy after a plane crash; she missed a turn and was hit by another vehicle.
A Mercedes struck Valencia's car from behind, causing additional damage.
Despite the accident, she continued to drive with her car severely damaged, lacking an exhaust system.

Valencia's Fate

Valencia ultimately died from carbon monoxide poisoning due to the car's damage and lack of proper exhaust.

Characters and Context

Bertram Copeland Rumfoord, a 70-year-old Harvard history professor, was Billy's hospital roommate, married to a much younger woman named Lily.
Rumfoord fractured his leg while skiing and expressed disdain for Billy, stating, "I could carve a better man out of a banana."

References and Opinions

The foreword of "The Destruction of Dresden" claims the bombing was a great tragedy but deemed a military necessity.
Rumfoord suspects Billy has echolalia, a condition where individuals repeat what they hear.

Billy Pilgrim's Experiences

At sixteen, Billy visited another doctor's office for an infected thumb, encountering an elderly man suffering from gas.
Billy sought validation from Rumfoord about his experiences during the bombing of Dresden, but Rumfoord initially dismissed him as delusional.

War Memories

American prisoners, including Billy, traveled back to the slaughterhouse in a coffin-shaped green wagon pulled by horses.
Initially, Billy felt content during this journey, describing himself as happy and well-fed.

Emotional Moments

Billy discovered a gun and a saber in odd places, reflecting the absurdity of war.
Upon seeing the injured horses pulling the wagon, Billy broke into tears, displaying his pent-up emotions.

Rumfoord's Change of Attitude

Rumfoord's interest in Billy piqued only when he began to believe Billy was present for the bombing.

Post-War Life

Billy returned home on the freighter Lucretia A. Mott and felt resigned to life's circumstances, agreeing with Rumfoord that the bombing was justified.
Upon returning home, Billy went to New York City, aiming to share lessons learned from Tralfamadore on television.

New York City Experiences

He checked into the Royalton Hotel, previously occupied by critic George Jean Nathan.
At a tawdry bookstore in Times Square, Billy spotted four Kilgore Trout novels.

Kilgore Trout Novels

"The Big Board" features Earthlings on display in a zoo on the planet Zircon-212, passing time by investing in stocks and praying.
Another Trout story involves a man who builds a time machine to witness a young Jesus crafting a crucifix.

Bizarre Encounters

Billy found a girly magazine titled "Midnight Pussycat," highlighting Montana Wildhack in a provocative pose.
A clerk showed Billy an explicit photo, humorously contrasting against his experience on the radio.

Radio Appearance

Initially meant to discuss literature, Billy ended up talking about flying saucers and Montana Wildhack on the radio.
He claimed to represent the Ilium Gazette during the broadcast.

Return to Tralfamadore

After his radio stint, Billy reconnected with the Tralfamadorians, learning they were "playing with the clocks," manipulating time at will.
A silver locket Montana wore contained images of her mother and an inscription reflecting a desire for serenity and wisdom amid life’s unpredictability.

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Description

Test your knowledge of Chapter 9 from 'Slaughterhouse-Five' with these flashcards. Explore key details about characters and events, including Valencia's tragic car accident. See how well you remember the pivotal moments from this iconic work.