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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How much of Medicare spending goes to the 5% of patients who are in their last year of life?
(a) 25%.
(b) 15%.
(c) 33%.
(d) 40%.

2. What was Thomas’ first project when he arrived at Chase?
(a) To introduce dogs and cats.
(b) To bring in children and relatives.
(c) To examine each resident and review their medical file.
(d) To give each resident house plants.

3. How does Gawande characterize “the average of a life’s moments” (238)?
(a) Mostly nothing plus some sleep.
(b) A lot of ennui with nice sunsets thrown in.
(c) One or two exceptional experiences with a lot of drudgery.
(d) Bothers and irritations punctuated by meals.

4. What value did Thomas espouse in running his farm?
(a) Stewardship.
(b) Sustainability.
(c) Self-reliance.
(d) Efficiency.

5. How many parakeets did Bill Thomas introduce to Chase Memorial?
(a) 2.
(b) 100.
(c) 60.
(d) 25.

Short Answer Questions

1. How many people were assigned to each “pod” at the New Bridge assisted living facility?

2. What is the city in which Gawande set out to dispose of his father’s ashes?

3. What does Jewel Douglas want Gawande to avoid in his operation?

4. What does Jewel Douglas say is her lifeblood?

5. What does Gawande say are the three plagues of nursing homes?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Gawande characterize his faith in his people’s religion, and how does he describe his participation in the Hindu ritual for dispersing his father’s remains?

2. What compromises does Gawande make, to give Jewel Douglass a “palliative operation” (240)?

3. How does Gawande say the western medical model is spreading throughout the world?

4. What does Sara Monopoli’s story illustrate?

5. What triumph of Gawande’s was Gawande’s father able to witness, in his declining health?

6. What technique does Atul Gawande learn from a palliative care physician, and use with Jewel Douglass?

7. What are the advantages and disadvantages of Gawande ending on a personal note?

8. What does Gawande say was the mistake his father made in his medical care?

9. What definition of courage does Gawande arrive at, from his discussion of Plato’s Laches dialogue?

10. What are the instructions Gawande’s father left, for the disposal of his remains?

(see the answer keys)

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