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

2. Richard hopes his ALS diagnosis is really what ailment?

3. How does Richard describe breaking up with his last girlfriend?

4. Where does Elise invite Karina as they take their morning walk in Chapter Eight?

5. Where does Karina visit Richard in the third chapter?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. Who is Martyna and how did she influence Karina?

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

5. Why does Richard accidentally call Karina?

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

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

8. What is the first part of Richard that stops working? What does he do as a result?

9. What does the prologue to the novel illustrate about Richard?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

An epigraph is a short quotation at the beginning of a book. The epigraph to this novel is a quote from Rumi: “Why do you stay in prison when the door is so wide open?” How does the epigraph reflect the lives of Richard and Karina? How does the epigraph reflect the novel’s themes?

Essay Topic 2

What do you think the future has in store for Karina after the close of the novel? Predict Karina’s future based on her thoughts and actions over the course of the novel.

Essay Topic 3

Richard loves classical piano, while Karina prefers jazz. How did their preferences affect their careers? How do their preferences reflect their personalities?

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