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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. How does Charlie when he is diagnosed with cancer after Don talks to him?

2. What does Don often criticize about Eva?

3. What does Don think he is doing when he tells people of his time in heaven?

4. What kind of car did Don's son, Joe, decide to buy?

5. What did Don see when he was leaning against the wall to catch his breath after going to the balcony in the arena?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did his accident affect his mother and how does she help out?

2. Who does Don meet at the arena in Houston? What happens when he meets him?

3. After several years what had Don told Eva about his death?

4. How does Don deal with telling his story now?

5. What kind of people does Don seem to meet?

6. What kind of award does Nicole receive and how did she qualify for it?

7. Who begins crying when Don is speaking at a church and why? What did she tell Don?

8. What two things does Don realize after sharing his story with others?

9. What does Don ask of his three children and how do they respond?

10. In what other way besides accident victim does Don help people?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Although Don is surrounded by a large number of visitors, he is utterly alone. The cloud of depression that has settled over him will not dissipate and is made larger by his inability to share his feelings with anyone.

1. Why do you think Don feels so alone? Use examples from the book to support your answer.

2. Don is depressed even though he has come back from the dead and is surrounded by people who love him. Why do you think Don is depressed? Use examples from the book to support your answer.

3. Explain why you think Don should or shouldn't share his feelings with others.

Essay Topic 2

The boys respect the fact that Don cannot run and play like he once did and do their best to shelter their father from any disappointment by not engaging in sports with him.

1. Why do you think the boys decided to not engage in any sports with him? Use examples from the book to support your answer.

2. Do you think the boys should have handled sports in a different manner? Why or why not?

3. Do you think Don appreciated his sons not participating in sports with him or did it make him feel worse? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Don has lost all control over his life and must lie helplessly while others try to help him. Despair seems the only available emotion at this stage.

1. Do you think Don's loss of control and how he feels about it is unusual for people in his situation? Why or why not?

2. Explain how you think you would feel and react if you were in Don's situation.

3. Why do you think someone might despair after having come back from the dead? Explain your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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