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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. At what age had Irv Lipsiner suffered a small heart attack, according to the author in Chapter 1?

2. How did Katie Mason die, according to the author in Chapter 6?

3. How old was Katie Mason when she died?

4. How old was Dr. Nuland’s grandmother when he was born?

5. What is the title of Chapter 1?

Short Essay Questions

1. What statistics does Dr. Nuland provide relating to ischemic heart disease in Chapter 1?

2. How is “legal death” defined by the author in Chapter 6?

3. What medical progress has been made in the diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, according to the author in Chapter 5?

4. What seven primary causes of death does the author cite for elderly patients in Chapter 4?

5. How does the author describe the progression of Alzheimer’s in Chapter 5?

6. What information does the author relate of stroke fatalities in Chapter 4? Whose assistance does he cite in this chapter?

7. How does the author go about explaining the heart’s functions in Chapter 2?

8. How does the author begin his Introduction? What does he say of the primary avenues leading to death in this section of the book?

9. What medical advances does the author cite in the study of myocardial infarction in Chapter 2?

10. What does the author write of the “mystery” and “myth” of death in the Introduction?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the author’s case study of the woman with breast cancer presented in the Introduction. What are the fears that are illustrated in this example regarding death? What caused the woman the greatest concern about her mother’s passing? How did Dr. Nuland address these fears?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss Janet Whiting’s sequence of reactions to her husband’s diagnosis with Alzheimer’s disease. In what ways did Janet’s responses mimic those of grief? Give examples of how Phil’s wife employed both rationalization and denial as his symptoms presented themselves.

Essay Topic 3

Describe and analyze the symptoms, progression, and prognosis for Alzheimer’s disease. What are the first signs of the disease’s onset? How does the progression eventually lead to the death of the patient? What causes Alzheimer's disease?

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