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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 committee's ultimate decision?

2. What is Sharon Crandell's argument against letting Landon die?

3. The courts revised the hospital founder's will to allow for what?

4. What is the main question debated by the committee in Chapter 14?

5. What do Lin, Randy and Cindy discuss at the beginning of Chapter 10?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are Hazel Mitchell's responsibilities at Hermann?

2. Why wasn't Hermann Hospital built right away?

3. What is Armando's condition, as described in the Epilogue?

4. What does Dr. Butler tell Kenny, in Chapter 23, regarding Landon's condition and treatment?

5. Who was the founder of Hermann Hospital, and how did he make his fortune?

6. What are the guidelines the Committee must follow regarding withdrawing life support, as set forth by Randy in Chapter 25?

7. What happens with Taylor's ventilator in Chapter 13?

8. What happens to the Sparks family, in the four years following the events in the book?

9. How is Patrick's condition changing in Chapter 12?

10. What happens when Norma tells Armando about his condition?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The board of trustees at Hermann Hospital was embroiled in scandals, during the early days of the hospital. How did this affect the hospital's function? How did it affect patients' opinions of the hospital? If you were a patient, would you want to choose another hospital over Hermann, because of its reputation? Why or why not? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

Essay Topic 2

Compare Hermann Hospital to the other major hospitals in Houston, Ben Taub and Methodist. How does Hermann fit in with the other two? What sort of experience do Hermann's patients get in comparison to the other hospitals' patients? Why? Should Hermann strive to become more like one of the other hospitals? If so, which one? If not, why? Why does Belkin compare Hermann to these other hospitals? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

Essay Topic 3

Armando grew up poor, knowing little English, and eventually his drunken brawls resulted in him getting shot. Did his lower-class upbringing influence the course of his life, which later resulted in his getting shot? Why or why not? Do you think that his injury still would have happened if he had a proper education and lived in a better area? Why or why not? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

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