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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 Karina shocked to discover about the jazz pianist she sees in New Orleans?

2. When Bill demands to speak privately with Karina, he expresses what concern?

3. After attending the funeral, what does Richard gain?

4. What does Karina believe about how her decision to pursue jazz affected her relationship with Richard?

5. According to Richard, what is the most selfish thing he has ever done?

Short Essay Questions

1. What surprising information do Richard's brothers tell him at the funeral? What is the effect on Richard?

2. How did moving to Boston impact Richard and Karina? What does Richard think about the move?

3. While Karina is in New Orleans, what does Richard try to do? Why?

4. How has caring for Richard taken a toll on Karina after the addition of the BiPAP? Why?

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

6. What does Richard think about Karina's talent and career?

7. Explain Richard's love for his daughter versus his love for the piano.

8. What offer does Elise make as Karina, Elise, and Grace take a morning walk? How does Grace help this plan?

9. What advice does Bill give Karina?

10. While Karina is in New Orleans, what trouble befalls Richard?

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

What might have happened to Richard and Karina had Richard never been diagnosed with ALS? Argue for an alternative reality based on what the reader knows of their histories, actions, and beliefs.

Essay Topic 3

Analyze the author’s choice to tell this story by using alternating perspectives. How does viewing the action through the eyes of both Richard and Karina affect the story? How would the book be different if the story was told through just one of their perspectives?

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This section contains 804 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample