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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. According to Mary, what should be the primary concern of any care giver?

2. Which of the following women lives in Chestnut Hill, in Boston?

3. How many sons does Johnnetta have?

4. Why didn't Mary ever step up as president at the college where she once worked?

5. In what situation does Mary describe men act as caregivers?

Short Essay Questions

1. In what ways is leading multiple lives similar to having "heightened wisdom"?

2. How does Mary feel about skepticism?

3. What leads Mary to the statement that all five of the women profiled in the book are "idealists"?

4. How did Mary's views about discontinuity change as she completed this book?

5. How does Johnnetta feel about the need to divide her time between her private and personal lives?

6. In what way does Ellen's home define her life?

7. What is Mary's definition of wisdom?

8. What prompted Mary's identity crisis after high school?

9. What two metaphors does Mary use to describe her emotions in dealing with the Amherst presidency?

10. What does Mary hope to write about in her next book?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Throughout the book, Bateson gives many different examples of ways that individuals care for themselves and those around them. First, define the three different ways one can act as a caregiver, and give examples from the text to support your definitions. Then, choose one woman from the text and explain why you believe she is the best examples of a well-rounded caregiver. What are the benefits of being a good caregiver? What are the downfalls? Be sure to include examples from the text to help strengthen your arguments.

Essay Topic 2

In chapter seven, Mary Bateson makes the statement that Americans are more comfortable giving things away completely than sharing. What do you think Bateson means by this saying? Do you agree with her? Why or why not? Finally, explain how you think this statement relates to the five women presented in the novel. Does this statement summarize any one woman or relationship in the text? If so, how? Be sure to include examples from the text to help strengthen your arguments.

Essay Topic 3

At the end of the book, Mary has almost completely changed her attitude about caregiving and women in the primary role as caregivers. First, describe Mary's attitude about these topics at the opening of the book and compare/contrast that to her attitude at the end of the book. Then, citing specific examples from the text, trace Mary's change in attitude and consciousness based on the knowledge she gained from her interviews with the five women.

(see the answer keys)

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