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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 experience that Martha have in the beginning of her labor?

2. What does John decide to focus more on after he talks to his adviser about his dissertation?

3. Martha began to be frightened about what would happen if Adam were born ________.

4. What is coming to an end, which is why John is being pushed in a certain direction by others?

5. During this time, John thinks about not returning to ________ as he is tired from all that is happening.

Short Essay Questions

1. What was the magical experience that John has which caused him to be supportive of the pregnancy?

2. What did Martha discover when she returns from a trip to the mall?

3. What happened after John spoke with his dissertation adviser that day?

4. What did Martha and John learn from their parents when they talked to them about the diagnosis they learned?

5. Why was Martha having troubles with bleeding during her pregnancy?

6. What did John's dissertation adviser tell John when John tells him about the diagnosis?

7. What was John unsure he could face every day when he is on his business trip, which caused him to question his life?

8. What was Martha surprised to learn about Sibyl when she told her about the diagnosis of Adam?

9. What did John's mentor tell him when John was having a conversation with him about his future?

10. What did the doctor in the hospital accuse Martha of doing when she was admitted again for dehydration?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The idea of ambition is one that comes up often in this book, often shown in a less than positive light, with Martha and John both spending their energy to try to keep up their professional careers, to the detriment of all else.

Part 1: Why do you think Martha and John's careers are so important to them?

Part 2: Do you think career should come before all else? Why or why not?

Part 3: How do you think a person can balance personal and professional goals in a positive way?

Essay Topic 2

Martha Beck decided not to leave her apartment, even as there was a fire below her apartment, even though she had her daughter with her.

Part 1: Why do you think that Martha decided to wait to leave the apartment?

Part 2: How would you have responded to the fire that was below your apartment?

Part 3: What seems strange to you about this moment in Martha's life?

Essay Topic 3

John and Martha's relationship is strained during the problems with her pregnancy.

Part 1: Why do you think there are so many problems between John and Martha?

Part 2: Do you think John and Martha needed to get counseling to help them out?

Part 3: How do you think John and Martha could have handled their situation better?

(see the answer keys)

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