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The Emperor of All Maladies by Siddhartha Mukherjee - Quiz
Contributed by: Cameron
  • 1. The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer, written by Siddhartha Mukherjee, is a profound exploration of the history, science, and personal narratives surrounding cancer, framing the disease as an evolving entity that has been part of humanity's experience for centuries. Mukherjee, a physician and researcher, intertwines personal stories and historical accounts with detailed medical insights, effectively illustrating both the struggle of individuals against cancer and the larger scientific quest for understanding and treating this complex illness. The book is organized into various chapters that chronologically and thematically depict significant developments in cancer treatment and research, ranging from ancient civilizations' superstitions about diseases to contemporary advances in genetics and immunotherapy. Through vivid storytelling, the author portrays cancer not merely as a medical challenge, but as a social and psychological phenomenon that impacts patients' lives, families, and societal perceptions. Mukherjee's eloquent prose and meticulous research offer a comprehensive examination of the 'imperial' nature of cancer, advocating for empathy, patience, and perseverance in the ongoing battle against this pervasive illness, ultimately suggesting that we must continue to learn and adapt in our approach to cancer care and treatment.

    What is the subtitle of 'The Emperor of All Maladies'?
A) The Story of a Cell
B) A Biography of Cancer
C) A History of Medicine
D) The War on Disease
  • 2. Who is the author of 'The Emperor of All Maladies'?
A) Atul Gawande
B) Siddhartha Mukherjee
C) Oliver Sacks
D) Paul Kalanithi
  • 3. What prestigious award did the book win in 2011?
A) The Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction
B) The Booker Prize
C) The Nobel Prize in Literature
D) The National Book Award
  • 4. The book traces the history of cancer back to which ancient physician?
A) Galen
B) Aristotle
C) Hippocrates
D) Imhotep
  • 5. What does the term 'carcinoma' etymologically derive from?
A) The Latin word for poison
B) The Persian word for curse
C) The Egyptian word for tumor
D) The Greek word for crab
  • 6. Who was the patient whose story opens the book and provides a narrative thread?
A) Carla Reed
B) Mary Lasker
C) George Papanicolaou
D) Sidney Farber
  • 7. Sidney Farber is considered a pioneer in the development of what?
A) Preventive vaccines
B) Radiation therapy
C) Chemotherapy
D) Palliative care
  • 8. What was the first chemical Farber found to induce remission in childhood leukemia?
A) Aminopterin
B) Cisplatin
C) Mustard gas
D) Tamoxifen
  • 9. The book describes the 'War on Cancer' as being officially declared by which U.S. President?
A) Richard Nixon
B) Lyndon B. Johnson
C) John F. Kennedy
D) Jimmy Carter
  • 10. What was the name of the legislation that launched the War on Cancer?
A) The Health Security Act
B) The National Cancer Act
C) The Cancer Eradication Act
D) The Medical Research Act
  • 11. Who was the influential socialite and philanthropist who tirelessly lobbied for cancer research funding?
A) Carla Reed
B) Eleanor Roosevelt
C) Barbara Bush
D) Mary Lasker
  • 12. The Pap smear, a critical tool for cervical cancer screening, was developed by?
A) George Papanicolaou
B) William Halsted
C) Emil Freireich
D) Sidney Farber
  • 13. The radical mastectomy was a famously aggressive surgical procedure pioneered by?
A) William Halsted
B) Sidney Farber
C) Bernard Fisher
D) Vincent DeVita
  • 14. The book discusses the development of Gleevec, a targeted therapy effective against?
A) Pancreatic cancer
B) Melanoma
C) Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML)
D) Lung cancer
  • 15. Gleevec works by targeting a specific abnormal protein caused by a genetic mishap called the?
A) BRCA mutation
B) p53 gene
C) RAS oncogene
D) Philadelphia chromosome
  • 16. The 'cell cycle' is described as a clock-like mechanism that regulates?
A) Cell division
B) Cell death
C) Cell communication
D) Cell metabolism
  • 17. What are the two major classes of genes that, when mutated, can lead to cancer?
A) Oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes
B) Receptors and transmitters
C) Enzymes and hormones
D) Antigens and antibodies
  • 18. The p53 gene is a famous example of what type of gene?
A) Oncogene
B) DNA repair gene
C) Housekeeping gene
D) Tumor suppressor gene
  • 19. The idea of targeting angiogenesis to treat cancer was notably championed by?
A) Harold Varmus
B) Robert Weinberg
C) Sidney Farber
D) Judah Folkman
  • 20. What is the name given to the ability of cancer cells to break off and spread to distant organs?
A) Angiogenesis
B) Mitosis
C) Apoptosis
D) Metastasis
  • 21. The book argues that the future of cancer treatment lies in?
A) Targeted therapies
B) More radical surgery
C) Higher dose chemotherapy
D) Preventive isolation
  • 22. What is a major theme of the book regarding the fight against cancer?
A) It is a constant battle of adaptation.
B) It is primarily a failure of willpower.
C) It is a simple problem with a simple solution.
D) It was won in the 20th century.
  • 23. Besides a doctor, what other profession does the author use as a metaphor for his role?
A) An archaeologist
B) A general
C) A detective
D) A biographer
  • 24. The book suggests that cancer is essentially a disease of?
A) The immune system
B) Toxins
C) Viruses
D) Genes
  • 25. What common cancer is strongly linked to smoking and saw a rise in the 20th century?
A) Breast cancer
B) Lung cancer
C) Leukemia
D) Prostate cancer
  • 26. The book describes the creation of the first chemotherapy combination regimens, known as 'VAMP', for treating?
A) Leukemia
B) Lymphoma
C) Lung cancer
D) Breast cancer
  • 27. What is the name of the targeted therapy drug developed for Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML)?
A) Herceptin
B) Avastin
C) Gleevec (imatinib)
D) Rituxan
  • 28. What was the first chemical ever shown to cause cancer (a carcinogen)?
A) Benzene
B) Soot
C) Tobacco
D) Asbestos
  • 29. What is the overall tone of the book regarding the fight against cancer?
A) Triumphant
B) Cautiously optimistic
C) Indifferent
D) Deeply pessimistic
  • 30. What year did 'The Emperor of All Maladies' win the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction?
A) 2013
B) 2015
C) 2009
D) 2011
  • 31. What is a carcinogen?
A) An immune cell
B) A cancer-causing agent
C) A type of tumor
D) A cancer-treating drug
  • 32. The book describes the work of epidemiologists Richard Doll and Austin Bradford Hill, who established a definitive link between cancer and what?
A) Asbestos
B) Alcohol
C) Smoking
D) Processed foods
  • 33. What viral cause of cancer did Peyton Rous discover?
A) Hepatitis B virus
B) Human papillomavirus (HPV)
C) Epstein-Barr virus
D) Rous sarcoma virus
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