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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 test was the one that confirmed the diagnosis of Down Syndrome in Adam, according to her account in the story?

2. Adam shows to John that ______ things always have a good side to them, according to the story.

3. What wakes Martha up the following morning, according to her story in the boook?

4. What is Martha packed and ready to do when John comes home with the news about his job?

5. ________ was having a conversation with a mentor when they are told to forget their family.

Short Essay Questions

1. What did Martha learn on the phone call that makes her stay on the phone until John arrived home?

2. What was the negative experience that Martha has in one of her classes, causing her to not doubt what others thought of her decision to have the baby?

3. What happened to Martha when she first arrived at the hospital with John?

4. What happened to delay John's return to Martha and to his family?

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

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

7. What was John considering when he was set to go on another trip to Asia for his job?

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

9. Why didn't Adam go home in the first few days after his birth, according to the story?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

A student berates Martha for falling for the stereotype of the weak woman who has morning sickness.

Part 1: Why do you think the student feels a woman is weak for having morning sickness?

Part 2: How do you feel about a person who considers another person's sickness to be a weakness?

Part 3: How would you have responded to the student if you were in Martha's shoes?

Essay Topic 2

The book itself is a memoir, told from the perspective of Martha as she learns about giving birth to a child who has Down Syndrome.

Part 1: Why do you think bringing up a child with Down Syndrome is more difficult?

Part 2: How might you respond if you heard your child was to be born with Down Syndrome?

Part 3: Do you think a person should abort a child if they know they're going to have developmental disorders?

Essay Topic 3

Though it is a holiday, John and Martha continue to work on their degrees while arguing about the holidays.

Part 1: Why do you think the holidays are a time of problems for many families?

Part 2: Do you think the Becks should have simply taken time to relax?

Part 3: What do you normally do when you are on vacation from school?

(see the answer keys)

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