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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. What kind of service did the Irish priest who married Lynch say he wanted?

2. What did Lynch have a drink of every night?

3. For approximately how long had Lynch been an undertaker when Chapter 2 opened?

4. How many years did Henry Nugent's second marriage last?

5. How old was Nugent's second wife when they married?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did Lynch describe the difference between chance and coincidence?

2. How does Lynch view the work done by his colleague Wesley Rice with the young, murdered girl?

3. Why did Nugent have several relationships following his divorce and did they help him find love?

4. Of all the choices offered by Lynch to explain Stephanie's death, which one seemed to be the one he would choose?

5. What is the essential difference between burying the old and burying infants?

6. Why do most people never pay attention to the figure Lynch called "The Big One"?

7. When and why did the regular practice of embalming begin?

8. What did Lynch lament about the modern homes Americans live in?

9. How did Lynch feel about constantly taking Nugent's phone calls following the divorce?

10. How does society generally view cemeteries, according to Lynch?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Lynch suggested that a priest interested in a simple funeral might have more of an effect on his parishioners if he lived a life of simplicity rather than wait until he was dead (and beyond caring). Why did Lynch say that a being a dead saint was not worthwhile? Would a simple funeral satisfy the needs of the living and would it convince people of the saintliness of the dead person? Or is it better to live a life of simplicity and then allow the living to do whatever they feel the need to do once you've died? Why did the priest seem shocked by Lynch's advice?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the assisted suicide doctor, Jack Kevorkian. Why were so many people willing to allow him to "assist" them in killing themselves? How does Lynch view the notion of providing someone with assistance in suicide? How did the general public react to Kevorkian and why was he not convicted? Is there an absolute value of life or can society reach an agreement about when people may choose to end theirs?

Essay Topic 3

In discussing the divorce of his friend, Henry Nugent, Lynch said divorced men in our society are seen as damaged goods. What did he mean by that? In what ways was the divorce easier on Nugent's ex-wife? How does divorce affect the father's relationship with the children? How did Lynch's divorce differ from many other American divorces?

(see the answer keys)

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