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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. While at the graduation party, Karina learns what news?

2. Who is Grace?

3. Before Karina leaves Richard in Chapter 9, he asks her to do what for him?

4. Upon moving to Boston, what did Karina discover?

5. What is the name of Richard's last girlfriend?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. When Karina visits Richard for the second time, what changes in him does she notice?

4. Who is Trevor and what has he said regarding Richard's illness?

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

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

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

8. Who is Kathy DeVillo and how does she help Richard?

9. What is the "invisible presence" Richard feels every morning and why does he tell himself to be grateful for it?

10. How did Richard meet Karina? What were his initial impressions of her?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay exploring how Richard’s relationship with Karina changes over the course of 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

Richard finds himself involved in several conflicts over the course of the novel. Choose one instance of internal conflict and one instance of external conflict, and explain how these conflicts have an impact on the story and the characters involved.

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