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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. How is Ben Taub described?

2. Why is Armando able to find peace at Bart's?

3. How many years after the founder's death did it take for the hospital to start being built?

4. What gives Fran and Carey solace, regarding their decision about Taylor?

5. Who is Armando's physical therapist?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. According to the author, what does the debate over medical ethics boil down to?

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

5. What happens to Claire and Kenny Sparks in Chapter 21?

6. What is the Committee's decision regarding Taylor, in Chapter 16?

7. How does Hermann fit in with the other two hospitals in Houston?

8. What condition does Landon have, and why?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Most of the patients Belkin discusses are poor, and cannot afford their medical care. What do you think a hospital should be required to do in situations when people cannot afford their own care? Should the hospitals be responsible for giving people all of the care they need, regardless of the cost, and give the uninsured equal treatment? Or should there be a limit to what hospitals are required to provide, due to financial limitations? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

Essay Topic 2

Compare and contrast the actions and personalities of Patrick and Armando. What is different about their relationships with the hospital staff, and why? What are the similarities and differences in their home situations? What do you think would have happened if they had met? Why do they have such different attitudes about their respective illnesses? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

Essay Topic 3

Belkin states that the book is about "making choices, and living with them." How well do you think the book conveys this message? Why? Is there anything that Belkin could have done differently to convey the message better? If so, what? Who has to live with the decisions that are made in the book? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 928 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample