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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. Which of the following activities helps Johnnetta deal with her stress?

2. Which of the following statements best describes the five women profiled in this book?

3. What is the name of the homeless shelter that provides shelter and food for as many people as possible, every night?

4. What does Mary claim is the result of changing one's identity?

5. What is the one thing modern day couples need to learn to deal with that couples in the past might not have had to deal with?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why did Jon need a blood transfusion when he was young?

2. At what times in their lives did Alice and Johnnetta most remember sharing, particularly food?

3. How does Johnnetta feel about the need to divide her time between her private and personal lives?

4. What is the main difference between men and women in regards to "multiple lives"?

5. What type of food did Mary cook for Barkev when they were first married?

6. How did Mary's views about discontinuity change as she completed this book?

7. In what way does "The Ode of Imru'u I-Qays" support Mary's arguments about multiple lives?

8. What has changed about caretaking in recent years, according to Mary's research on society?

9. What leads Mary to the statement that all five of the women profiled in the book are "idealists"?

10. What is Mary's definition of wisdom?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In what ways is wisdom gained through life? Mary has very specific ideas about how one becomes "wise". Explain those ideas in a brief essay using one of the women in the book as an example. What path did this woman take in her pursuit of wisdom? What different types of wisdom did she gain? Do you think all her efforts were consciously in the pursuit of wisdom? How can you tell? Be sure to include examples from the text to help strengthen your arguments.

Essay Topic 2

In the final chapter of the book, Mary discusses global humanity. First, describe Mary's views on global humanity and explain how this expansive topic fits into her theme of composing a life. How does the idea of global humanity relate back to the interviews with the five women and their journey toward "synergy"? Finally, explain what message the reader walks away from this book with, particularly in relation to the themes of the final chapter. Be sure to include examples from the text to help strengthen your arguments.

Essay Topic 3

In many ways, composing an identity is much like composing a life. Fist, describe the way most individuals compose their own identity. Do people generally have one or many identities? Choose one woman from the book and list the characteristics of her identity or identities. In what ways is does this formation of identity inform the title of the book? In what way is composed identity similar to a composed life? Be sure to include examples from the text to help strengthen your arguments.

(see the answer keys)

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