Curated set · answers marked
*Quiz Question: Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes*
What is the name of the surgical procedure that Charlie Gordon undergoes at the beginning of Flowers for Algernon, and what is its intended purpose?
A) A lobotomy, intended to cure his epilepsy B) An experimental brain operation, aimed at significantly boosting his intelligence C) A memory-suppression procedure, meant to erase his traumatic childhood D) A hormone treatment, designed to enhance his emotional regulation
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: Charlie Gordon, who has an intellectual disability, volunteers for an experimental neurosurgical procedure created by Dr. Strauss and Professor Nemur. This surgery is intended to artificially and dramatically increase his intelligence—the same procedure that was previously tested on the mouse Algernon.
What surgical procedure does Charlie Gordon have at the start of Flowers for Algernon that significantly boosts his intelligence?
Rationale
Charlie Gordon, who has an intellectual disability, undergoes a groundbreaking brain surgery created by Dr. Strauss and Professor Nemur. This operation raises his IQ dramatically, turning him into a genius — but the improvements are ultimately short-lived, just like the lab mouse Algernon's decline.