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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. In what year did John Hillenbrand purchase the Batesville Coffin Company?

2. Before Kevorkian, how many "successful" suicides were men?

3. What kind of car crushed a worker at a scrap metal yard in Lynch's story?

4. When did Lynch feel his midpoint had arrived?

5. Approximately how many caskets can someone choose from at the Lynch funeral home?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why did authors such as Jessica Mitford attack the funeral industry?

2. What lesson did Lynch want to teach Sweeney with his story of the man killed by the falling vehicle at the scrap metal yard?

3. Why did Janet Adkins ask Jack Kevorkian to assist in her suicide?

4. How does Sweeney approach the consuming of food delicacies?

5. What kind of music did Lynch want at his funeral?

6. How did Lynch feel about the prospect of his loved ones feeling guilt at his funeral?

7. What did Lynch mean when he said that "in even the best of caskets, it never all fits"?

8. How did Lynch react to the body of the young man who shot himself in Chapter 9?

9. Why have more and more Americans opted for cremation, according to Lynch?

10. Describe Matthew Sweeney's personality.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Lynch wanted to know the day he would die so he could recognize the midpoint when he arrived at it. Do you think it is possible to intuitively know the midpoint of your life? Why did Lynch pick that Halloween as his likely midpoint? What was is perspective on his life at that point? What would be the advantages to knowing the midpoint of your life? Would it affect how you viewed different periods of your life? is there actually an equilibrium that people automatically reach at midlife?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the feasibility of the "golfatorium" envisioned by Lynch. Would Americans accept such a concept? How would it fit into the general American attitude that cemeteries are a waste of land because they don't serve the living? How would it fit into the American concept of one-stop shopping for services? Would it be possible to maintain a sense of respect and dignity for the dead at a golf course?

Essay Topic 3

Although he acknowledges that once he is dead, his opinion will not matter, Lynch provides a blueprint for his own funeral. Discuss the significance of the various aspects of the funeral as described in the last chapter. What is the significance of the time of year? the weather? the preferred services? the desire to have people remain at the graveside until the casket is lowered? What is the ultimate desire of Lynch for his funeral?

(see the answer keys)

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