Question 1

According to Avery Weisman, what is the first step required in order to achieve an appropriate death?

Accepted Answer

Avery Weisman suggests that the first step to achieving an appropriate death is to rid ourselves of the notion that death is never appropriate. This involves accepting death as a natural and inevitable part of life, which is essential for addressing and preparing for our own mortality in a healthy and constructive manner.

Question 2

What is the term used for individuals who live beyond 100 years?

Accepted Answer

Centenarians are individuals who live beyond 100 years. A is incorrect as it refers to individuals who have reached the age of 100 in ancient Rome. B and D are not terms used for individuals who live beyond 100 years.

Question 3

What is a potential downside of humanizing death and dying?

Accepted Answer

Humanizing death and dying can potentially minimize and devalue death, making it seem less significant and important. This can be dangerous as it may lead to neglecting the emotional and spiritual aspects of dying, and the need to support those who are approaching the end of their life.

Question 4

The premise of Kit Reed's story, Golden Acres, is that

Accepted Answer

The story's premise is that there is a large elderly population and overcrowding in care homes can lead to difficult decisions about who to keep alive. This is highlighted through the conflict between the protagonist, who wants to keep her mother alive in the care home, and the management who want to discharge her mother in order to make space for more elderly residents. There is no emphasis on the importance of relaxed, leisurely lives or living in rural environments, and while the story does touch on the idea of natural death in familiar surroundings, it is not the main focus.

Question 5

Edwin Shneidman suggests that the good death focuses not just on the person's dying, but also on the

Accepted Answer

The answer of Edwin Shneidman suggests that the good death...

Question 6

Herman Feifel is quoted as saying that the death awareness movement has

Accepted Answer

Feifel believed that the death awareness movement has helped humanize medical relationships and health care. He argued that it has increased empathy and understanding between healthcare providers and patients, and has encouraged a more holistic approach to medical care.

Question 7

One component of a "good death" is the affirmation of the whole person. This involves

Accepted Answer

Affirming the whole person means recognizing and valuing the person's life and not just focusing on their illness or disease. This involves seeing the person in the context of their life, including their relationships, values, and beliefs. Empowering the dying person and having the family present are also important components of a good death, but they do not directly address the affirmation of the whole person. Publication of a comprehensive obituary or life-review may be important to some individuals, but it is not a necessary component of a good death.

Question 8

In contemplating death in the future, which of the following is likely to demand the greatest attention from individuals and societies?

Accepted Answer

The aging of the population will have the greatest impact on individuals and societies in terms of death, as it will lead to an increase in demand for end-of-life care, changes in social structures, and potential strains on resources such as healthcare and pension systems. The other options are not as significant in relation to death and dying.

Question 9

In ancient Greece, it was considered exceptional luck to die

Accepted Answer

The answer of In ancient Greece, it was considered exceptional...

Question 10

Poet Gary Snyder has called attention to the loss of a

Accepted Answer

Gary Snyder's focus on environmentalism and conservation leads to his concern about the rapid loss of species due to human impact on the environment.

Question 11

According to Robert Kastenbaum, which of the following constitutes the good death?
1) It affirms significant personal relationships.
2) It is transfiguring and enacts the highest values.
3) It finally ends the long, contemplative journey.
4) It is coherent and the final phase of a good life.

Accepted Answer

According to Robert Kastenbaum, the good death is one that affirms significant personal relationships, is transfiguring and enacts the highest values, and is coherent and the final phase of a good life. The concept of finally ending the long, contemplative journey is not explicitly mentioned as a criterion for the good death by Kastenbaum. Therefore, the best choice is C, which includes the three criteria explicitly mentioned by Kastenbaum.

Question 12

In commenting on the messages of care for the dying promoted by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, Dame Cicely Saunders, and Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Robert Fulton and Greg Owen remark that this message is also about

Accepted Answer

The messages of care for the dying promoted by Kübler-Ross, Saunders, and Mother Teresa extend beyond just the immediate care for the dying. They also emphasize essential religious and spiritual values that inform their approach to end-of-life care.

Question 13

Which of the following is an example of a specialized support and advocacy group?

Accepted Answer

Parents of Murdered Children is a specialized support and advocacy group focused on providing assistance to parents who have lost a child to homicide. The Mortal Kings and Will-Lee's Dream are not known organizations, and Sibs in Sync sounds like a general sibling support group rather than a specialized advocacy group.

Question 14

An alternative way of defining a good death has been offered by Stu Farber and his colleagues. They propose the term ________ death and define it as a nonjudgmental relationship emphasizing the mutuality of caregivers and patients.

Accepted Answer

The answer of An alternative way of defining a good...

Question 15

Natural, expected, honorable, and rueful are among the "criteria for a good death" suggested by

Accepted Answer

The answer of Natural, expected, honorable, and rueful are among...

Question 16

There are signs that the circumstances surrounding death are being brought back into the personal control of the

Accepted Answer

The use of terms like "personal control" and "individuals" suggest that the most appropriate choice is B. While physicians, families, close friends, and religious/spiritual leaders may all play a role in end-of-life care and decision-making, the emphasis on personal control points to the importance of individual choice and agency.

Question 17

Which of the following are included in the concept of an appropriate death?
1) Minimal pain and suffering
2) Respecting one's preferences
3) Resolving conflicts
4) Long productive life

Accepted Answer

An appropriate death involves minimal pain and suffering, respecting one's preferences, and resolving conflicts. The concept does not include a specific criteria of a long productive life as it may vary from person to person.

Question 18

In considering the personal value derived from thinking about and exploring the meaning of death, one engages both mental faculties and

Accepted Answer

Engaging with the meaning of death involves not only intellectual contemplation but also emotional processing, as it can evoke a range of feelings and personal reflections.

Question 19

In considering various ways of defining a "good death," which of the following statements about ancient Greece is true?

Accepted Answer

In ancient Greece, dying at a young age was considered exceptional luck, as it meant a person did not have to experience the suffering and hardships of old age. This is in contrast to our society, where we value longevity and view dying young as a tragedy.

Question 20

In Japan, high-rise cemeteries exist because

Accepted Answer

Burial space is at a premium in Japan due to its high population density and limited land resources. High-rise cemeteries offer a solution to this issue by utilizing vertical space instead of sprawling out horizontally. This allows for more people to be buried in a smaller area.

Quiz 15: The Path Ahead: Personal and Social Choices