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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. In "A Special Year," why was the author concerned about his wife traveling to Australia?

2. What homework assignment did the author give Luis and Terry Francisco before Maranda's surgery?

3. What did the author and Dr. Udvarhelyi end up talking about extensively in the interview for Johns Hopkins?

4. In "Think Big," what does the author say talented young people should focus on, instead of music and sports?

5. What are members of the Ben Carson Club at Old Court Middle School in the Baltimore suburbs required to do?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why did Brian and Kathy Usher initially decide against the hemispherectomy for their daughter, Beth?

2. Why did the author tell a resident at the hospital in Australia that he came from a large family?

3. How did Theresa Binder, in "Separating the Twins," respond to the news that she was having Siamese twins?

4. Why does the author say "no knowledge is ever wasted," in "Another Step Forward"?

5. What was controversial about Denise Baca's hemispherectomy?

6. Describe Maranda Francisco's improvements after her hemispherectomy.

7. What happened at Johns Hopkins in 1985 that allowed the author more time?

8. What complications did Danielle experience after her surgery in "Three Special Children"?

9. How did the chief of surgery at Provident Hospital try to lure the author to work for him?

10. What challenge did Patrick face after his surgery, in "The Rest of Their Story"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How is the author able to build strong, supportive relationships in his life? How does he support others? Why are some of the people who are close to him unsupportive? How does the author react to unsupportive people?

Essay Topic 2

What conflict might the author face as he grows in popularity and can no longer meet each demand? How does he turn away patients? How might he reject speaking engagements he has been invited to?

Essay Topic 3

What is the author's greatest accomplishment? How does this accomplishment make a difference? What might be different if the author did not achieve this?

(see the answer keys)

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