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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. After Richard gets a feeding tube, what is his "food" called?

2. What stops Richard from using the Head Mouse?

3. After the funeral, what do Richard's brothers tell him about their childhood?

4. What surprising news do Richard's brothers tell him after the funeral?

5. From whom did Grace learn about Richard's ALS diagnosis?

Short Essay Questions

1. What advice does Bill give Karina?

2. After moving back in with Karina, where does Richard stay? What is notable about this room?

3. What does Karina imagine during the piano lesson with Dylan?

4. How does Richard's wheelchair impair his mobility, instead of facilitate it?

5. Who is Dr. George and what service does he offer Richard?

6. What changes does Richard see in Karina following her trip to New Orleans?

7. After moving back in with Karina, how does Richard spend his time?

8. After the incident on Christmas Eve, what two tests are performed on Richard? What are the results?

9. What is makowiec, and what happens when Richard asks to sample some?

10. What is ironic about Karina's asking Richard if he wants anything in Chapter Twenty-eight?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Does Karina experience any change over the course of the novel? In what ways does she change and in what ways does she remain the same?

Essay Topic 2

At one point in the novel, Richard thinks that “living with ALS is a practice in the art of Zen” (98). Explain the truth behind this belief as evidenced by the novel.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the characters of Bill, Kathy, and Ginny and analyze the effects each has on both Richard and the plot as a whole.

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