View a FREE sample

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

Short Answer Questions

1. Richard realizes that his experience with his father mirrors what situation?

2. Which medication promises to give Richard an extra three months of life?

3. Before becoming a home health aide, what did Bill do for a living?

4. What does Bill add to Richard's milkshake in Chapter Eleven?

5. What school does Grace attend?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the second part of Richard that stops working?

2. Who is Elise and how did Karina meet her? What does Elise want Karina to do?

3. How does Richard adapt to the piano after the loss of his right hand? What does he find comfort in?

4. What information does Elise give Karina during their morning walk in Chapter Eight?

5. What happens when Richard goes out in Chapter Twelve?

6. What does Kathy DeVillo recommend Richard start doing in Chapter Seven? Explain several things.

7. When Karina first visits Richard in his condo, what is Richard doing? Why?

8. When helping Richard in the bathroom, what moves Karina to tears? What does she decide?

9. Who is Bill? What information does the reader learn about his background?

10. What is Richard's relationship like with his father?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Denial plays a big role in the lives of the main characters. Explain how Richard and Karina each suffer from denial. What are the consequences of denial in the novel?

Essay Topic 2

The idea of his legacy is important to Richard. How does Richard’s opinion on his legacy evolve over the course of the novel? What point is the author trying to make regarding this idea?

Essay Topic 3

Analyze how the novel’s settings influence both the character of Richard and the novel’s plot.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 728 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample