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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. According to Chapter 12, growing up involves giving up what illusion?
(a) That the universe revolves around us.
(b) That friendship is infallible.
(c) That our parents are perfect.
(d) That death is inevitable.

2. Which book referenced in Chapter 14 references the "good mother"?
(a) Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert.
(b) The World According to Garp by John Irving
(c) The Mother Knot by Jane Lazarre
(d) Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

3. According to Viorst, the different roles we assign ourselves keep life interesting and fluid, rather than _____________.
(a) Topsy-turvy.
(b) Unpredictable.
(c) Boring.
(d) Constricting.

4. What is the name of the son in Death of a Salesman that Viorst uses as an example of the restricting roles some parents foist on their children?
(a) Biff.
(b) Jonathan.
(c) Jeff.
(d) William.

5. According to Viorst, in middle age we inspire far less ________ than we do ___________.
(a) Lust; respect.
(b) Admiration; annoyance.
(c) Respect; pity.
(d) Hatred; love.

6. How did Cecil and Julia Saunders die?
(a) They shot themselves.
(b) Someone broke into their house and killed them.
(c) Their plane crashed on the way to their granddaughter's wedding.
(d) They died in a car accident.

7. What is the first phase of mourning discussed in Chapter 16?
(a) Endless crying.
(b) Hatred of the person who left us.
(c) Shock.
(d) Renewed hope.

8. Intimate male-female relationships are rare because of what?
(a) The sexual tension.
(b) Socially unacceptable norms.
(c) Women would just rather talk to other women.
(d) The adultery factor.

9. Viorst says, "Losing is the price we pay for __________."
(a) Loving.
(b) Being human.
(c) Living.
(d) Winning.

10. Which philosopher does Viorst quote in Chapter 14?
(a) Leo Tolstoy
(b) Friedrich Nietzsche
(c) Karl Marx
(d) Soren Kierkegaard

11. What does the father in the poem referenced in Chapter 14 finally conclude?
(a) That he must let his children go.
(b) That he never should have had children.
(c) That his children will just grow up and go away.
(d) That he can indeed protect his children.

12. According to Lillian Rubin, the sexual difference between men and women leads to what in a marriage relationship?
(a) Separation and divorce.
(b) A perfect partnership.
(c) Intimate strangers.
(d) Superficial friendship.

13. There are what number of friendships that Viorst labels in Chapter 12?
(a) Six.
(b) Fifteen.
(c) Two.
(d) Twelve.

14. Viorst contends that our unconscious sexual thoughts toward friends are masked as what?
(a) Flirtatious behavior.
(b) Concern, devotion, and affection.
(c) Hostility.
(d) Ridicule and anger.

15. Parents have trouble seeing their children as what?
(a) Anything but perfect.
(b) Competent humans.
(c) A part of themselves.
(d) Separate people.

Short Answer Questions

1. According to Viorst, what types of feelings are present in ALL friendships?

2. What is it called when someone keeps everything just the same after someone dies?

3. A man in his forties confessed to Viorst that he reviewed his life insurance policy after he was diagnosed with what?

4. What famous author's memoir entitled Speak, Memory does Viorst reference at the end of Chapter 14?

5. What was the name of the married woman with four children, mentioned in Chapter 12, who formed a non-sexual friendship with another man?

(see the answer keys)

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