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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. Viorst contends that our unconscious sexual thoughts toward friends are masked as what?

2. According to Viorst, in middle age we inspire far less ________ than we do ___________.

3. What is the key achievement of mid-life according to Viorst?

4. Which famous author's daughter suddenly died at the age of 24?

5. Which sex tends to have only superficial relationships?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are a few of the difficulties of a marriage relationship mentioned in Chapter 13?

2. How did Viorst's three friends approach death differently?

3. Which necessary loss is discussed in Chapter 12?

4. According to Chapter 17, what redefines us throughout our lives?

5. Name two of the stages of mourning that Viorst describes in Chapter 16.

6. Why does our focus shift in middle age to discovering our family's history?

7. Name the five stages of dying described by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross. Briefly describe each stage.

8. What does Freud say about religious thoughts of an afterlife?

9. What can happen as a result of a mother's fear that her child's psyche is fragile? How can this affect the child?

10. Viorst suggests two necessary losses in Chapter 14. Name one of them.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast normal/healthy mourning with that of chronic mourning, according to the book. How are they similar? What is different about the process of chronic mourning? Can grief be resolved through either process?

Essay Topic 2

Using support from the book, discuss whether the differences between males and females are innate or cultural.

Essay Topic 3

Chapter 11 details the positive and negative aspects of our dreams and fantasies. Compare and contrast fantasy versus reality using ideas from the book. How are they similar? How are they different? Do they serve the same purpose?

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