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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. From where does Nicole say she gets help?

2. What does Don ask his three children to do?

3. What did Don believe he felt when he came to singing?

4. How does Don describe Joyce, Eva's sister-in-law?

5. What does Don believe about why he didn't die?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Don tell about waking up and having someone holding his hand and what does he find out about that?

2. What did Don do instead of watching more television and what was the end result?

3. How does Don deal with telling his story now?

4. What is one of the worst parts of Don's recovery and how do they handle it?

5. What are some of the obstacles Don faces in daily living because of his physical problems?

6. What happened with a classmate of Nicole's at the university?

7. What is one of the major changes Eva faces during Don's recovery? How does Don react to that change?

8. After several years what had Don told Eva about his death?

9. What surprised Eva most about Don in the months after the accident and what did she do about it? How does she view Don?

10. How did his accident affect his mother and how does she help out?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Despite the large number of visitors who come to see Don in the hospital, he refuses to let anyone do anything for him. One day, Jay Perkins stops by to visit Don. Jay is a retired minister filling in for Don. Jay notices that Don never asks for help and challenges him to open up to the people who care about him. Jay tells Don that people are trying to love him in the only way they know how, but Don will not let them.

1. How would the above statement relate to the cliche, "No man is an island?"

2. Why do you think Don is refusing help from anyone? Use examples from the book and your own life to support your answer.

3. People in general seem to believe that doing something for someone they love is showing their love. Do you think this is true? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

The accident acts as a catalyst for the rest of the story.

1. What do you think the above statement means?

2. Discuss what you believe about whether one turn of events can change a person's life forever.

3. Do you think the paramedics were careless about declaring Don dead? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

At the opening to the story, we are immediately introduced to the main character, Don, and later his wife Eva. Choose one of the following questions and write a well-developed essay using specific examples and details:

1. Thoroughly describe and analyze Don and his role in the book--using examples from the entire book. How does he help drive the plot? Is he a likable character? Is there anything about him that is redeemable?

2. Thoroughly describe and analyze Eva and her role in the book--using examples from the entire book. How does she help drive the plot? Is she a likable character? What about her is not so likable?

3. Analyze the interactions between Don and Eva. Would you consider their marriage to be a good marriage? Who seems to be the stronger character, Don or Eva? Why? Is Eva's life affected as much by the accident as Don's? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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