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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. When Karina visits Richard in the third chapter, how does the visit end?

2. What does Bill add to Richard's milkshake in Chapter Eleven?

3. What school does Grace attend?

4. Where does Karina visit Richard in the third chapter?

5. In the Prologue to the novel, Richard notes his playing lacks what?

Short Essay Questions

1. When helping Richard in the bathroom, what moves Karina to tears? What does she decide?

2. When Karina visits Richard for the second time, what changes in him does she notice?

3. Who is Kathy DeVillo and how does she help Richard?

4. What is Richard's relationship like with his father?

5. How did Richard meet Karina? What were his initial impressions of her?

6. Why does Richard accidentally call Karina?

7. Who is Maxine? How did Richard's diagnosis impact his relationship with her?

8. How does Richard adapt to the piano after the loss of his right hand? What does he find comfort in?

9. What is the first part of Richard that stops working? What does he do as a result?

10. When Karina first visits Richard in his condo, what does she think about Richard's diagnosis? How does this opinion change by the end of her visit?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Richard loves classical piano, while Karina prefers jazz. How did their preferences affect their careers? How do their preferences reflect their personalities?

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay explaining the significance of the title of the novel. How does the title reflect the lives of Richard and Karina? How does the title reflect the novel’s themes?

Essay Topic 3

What do you think the future has in store for Karina after the close of the novel? Predict Karina’s future based on her thoughts and actions over the course of the novel.

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