Question 1

When Elisabeth Kübler-Ross began her research on death and dying in the 1960s, she commonly observed all of the following EXCEPT:
A) patients were sometimes not told they had a terminal diagnosis
B) doctors and nurses seemed to avoid patients who were dying
C) doctors and nurses provided better and more attentive care, but only after a terminal diagnosis was certain
D) patients were discouraged from talking about their own deaths

Accepted Answer

Kübler-Ross observed that doctors and nurses did not necessarily provide better and more attentive care after a terminal diagnosis was certain, which contradicts option C. She did observe that patients were sometimes not told they had a terminal diagnosis (A), doctors and nurses avoided patients who were dying (B), and patients were discouraged from talking about their own deaths (D).

Question 2

Jodi is dying from a rare blood disorder, but insists that her doctor has made a mistake in the diagnosis. Jodi's reaction is best considered to be an example of which of Kübler-Ross's five stages of dying?
A) anger
B) denial
C) bargaining
D) depression

Accepted Answer

Jodi's insistence that the doctor has made a mistake in the diagnosis demonstrates denial, which is the first stage of Kübler-Ross's five stages of dying.

Question 3

The text notes that today in the United States, we live in an era of "invisible death." By this, the text means that:
A) the rituals surrounding death are very clear and well understood by members of our culture
B) we often cope with death by denying its existence in our lives
C) most people die while they are unconscious, thus the last moments of life are peaceful
D) the terror surrounding death is paralyzing and therefore we seldom see death approaching us

Accepted Answer

The text states that we live in an era of "invisible death," meaning that many people cope with death by denying its existence in their lives. This suggests that death is not acknowledged or spoken about openly, making it seem invisible or nonexistent. The other choices are not supported by the text.

Question 4

Generalizing from the text, terror management theory seems to provide the best predictions for which of the following groups of people?
A) older people from collectivist cultures
B) older people from individualist cultures
C) younger people from collectivist cultures
D) younger people from individualist cultures

Accepted Answer

The answer of Generalizing from the text, terror management theory...

Question 5

Brittany, age 23, has just been told by her doctor that she has only a few months to live due to a heart ailment. Her reaction is to say that the diagnosis must be wrong and to seek out opinions from other doctors. Brittany's reaction is best considered to be an example of which of Kübler-Ross's five stages of dying?
A) depression
B) anger
C) denial
D) acceptance

Accepted Answer

Brittany's reaction of denying the diagnosis and seeking out opinions from other doctors is a classic example of the denial stage in Kübler-Ross's five stages of dying. In this stage, individuals may refuse to believe the diagnosis or may seek out alternative explanations. It is common for individuals to go through a period of denial before moving on to other stages of grieving.

Question 6

According to the theory set forth by Kübler-Ross, the stage of adjustment in which the terminal patient has recognized that death will come is called:
A) acceptance
B) depression
C) anticipatory grief
D) bereavement overload

Accepted Answer

According to Kübler-Ross's theory of the stages of grief, the final stage is acceptance, which occurs when the patient has come to terms with their impending death and is preparing to let go. The other options, depression, anticipatory grief, and bereavement overload, refer to earlier stages of the grieving process.

Question 7

Between 2003 and 2010, the number of hospice patients served in the United States:
A) decreased very slightly
B) remained about the same
C) increased very slightly
D) increased by about 65%

Accepted Answer

According to data from the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, the number of hospice patients served in the United States increased from approximately 900,000 in 2003 to over 1.5 million in 2010, which is an increase of about 65%.

Question 8

A small town has experienced an unusually high suicide rate in recent years. Local officials try to prevent future suicides by concentrating their efforts on those most likely to commit suicide. These people would be:
A) women under age 21
B) women between ages 21 and 35
C) men under age 21
D) men over age 75

Accepted Answer

According to statistics, men over age 75 have a significantly higher risk of suicide compared to other demographics. Therefore, local officials should concentrate their efforts on this group to prevent future suicides.

Question 9

Terry, a 73-year-old widower, was in the hospital for six months with cancer. Finally, the painful treatments got to be too much for him and he just gave up and let himself die. This passive form of suicide is best considered to be an example of:
A) suicide-by-proxy
B) anticipatory suicide
C) submissive death
D) unilateral death

Accepted Answer

This scenario is an example of "submissive death," where an individual may not actively take their own life but rather allows themselves to die by not resisting death or refusing life-prolonging treatments.

Question 10

According to the work of Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, which of the following statements best reflects the anger stage of dying?
A) "I'm a goner."
B) "The doctor has given me the wrong diagnosis."
C) "Why me?"
D) "How can I get out of this?"

Accepted Answer

According to Kübler-Ross, the anger stage of dying is characterized by questioning and anger, often expressed as "Why me?". The other options may reflect denial (A), bargaining (B), or attempts to find a solution (D) which are different stages in the grief process.

Question 11

Of the children who die before they reach age 18, the largest percentage falls into which of the following age group?
A) age 0 to age 1
B) age 1 to age 4
C) age 5 to age 9
D) age 15 to age 19

Accepted Answer

The largest percentage of children who die before age 18 falls into the age group of 0 to 1 year. This is due to the high vulnerability of infants and newborns to a variety of health and environmental risks.

Question 12

In 1900, the death rate of U.S. children under the age of 5 was ____; in 2009 it was ____.
A) 8%; 4%
B)18%; 8%
C) 50%; 5%
D) 30%; 1.5%

Accepted Answer

In 1900, the death rate of U.S. children under the age of 5 was significantly higher than today, reflecting the impact of improvements in public health, medicine, and living conditions over the century. By 2009, the rate had dramatically decreased to about 1.5%, showcasing the advancements in healthcare and disease prevention.

Question 13

According to research cited in the text, when caregivers were asked to comment about the relief they felt following their loved one's death, about ____ reported that death was a relief to them and about ____ reported that they felt it provided a welcome relief to the person who died.
A) 5%; 50%
B) 35%; 55%
C) 50%; 50%
D) 72%; 90%

Accepted Answer

Research indicates that a significant majority of caregivers find relief in the death of their loved ones, both for themselves and for the person who died, with 72% reporting personal relief and 90% believing it provided relief to the deceased.

Question 14

The text points out an inconsistency between hospice care and hospital care. Which of the following best captures the sense of that inconsistency?
A) Hospitals focus on keeping patients alive, whereas hospice is focused on helping a person die.
B) In a hospital, decisions about extending life are made by the patient but in hospice care trained professionals make these decisions for the patient.
C) Most real care in hospitals is done by nurses but in hospice care the real care is done by physicians.
D) Most hospital care is covered by insurance but hospice care is hardly ever covered by insurance.

Accepted Answer

The text states that hospitals focus on curing and extending life, while hospice care focuses on providing comfort and support to patients who are dying. This creates an inconsistency or conflict in the approach of the two types of care.

Question 15

Statistically speaking, which of the following people would be at the highest risk of suicide?
A) a married woman
B) a married man
C) a man who has just become a widower
D) a woman who has just become a widow

Accepted Answer

Statistically, men who have become widowers have a higher risk of suicide compared to other groups. This is because they may experience social isolation, financial difficulties, and loneliness after the loss of their spouse. It is important to note that suicide risk varies widely among individuals and should be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Question 16

A legal document that informs both family and health-care workers of the signer's wish to avoid the use of "heroic measures" to maintain life in the event of irreversible illness is called a(n):
A) donor's will
B) medical power of attorney
C) intestate will
D) living will

Accepted Answer

A living will is a legal document that allows individuals to specify their wishes regarding medical treatment and end-of-life care in the event they become incapacitated or unable to communicate their decisions. It outlines what types of medical interventions or life-sustaining treatments they do or do not want to receive, including "heroic measures," such as CPR or artificial ventilation. This document is typically used in conjunction with a medical power of attorney, which designates a trusted person to make healthcare decisions on the signer's behalf. Donor's will and intestate will are unrelated to this specific issue.

Question 17

The goal of hospice is to:
A) keep down the cost of health care
B) prevent contamination from contagious diseases
C) help terminally ill patients live their final days as fully and independently as possible
D) allow the terminally ill person a spiritual retreat before death

Accepted Answer

The primary goal of hospice care is to provide a compassionate approach to care, focusing on the quality of life for people who are experiencing an advanced, life-limiting illness. Hospice care supports terminally ill patients in living their final days as fully and independently as possible, often in their own homes, with a focus on comfort and reducing pain and suffering.

Question 18

MacDonald's has established a network of "Ronald McDonald" houses near major hospitals so that families of very ill children will have a place to stay while visiting their ill child. This charity is best considered to be an example of:
A) hospice care
B) palliative care
C) bereavement assistance
D) grief work

Accepted Answer

The charity established by MacDonald's is an example of palliative care, as it provides support and comfort to families of very ill children by offering a place to stay near the hospital. Palliative care focuses on improving the quality of life for patients and their families who are facing serious illnesses or chronic conditions. Hospice care, on the other hand, is a specialized form of palliative care that focuses on providing comfort and support to patients who are nearing the end of their lives. Bereavement assistance and grief work are related to supporting individuals and families after a loss, which is not directly related to the charity established by MacDonald's.

Question 19

According to terror management theory, thinking about one's own death leads to which of the following?
A) denial
B) despair
C) confusion
D) a stronger self-concept

Accepted Answer

According to terror management theory, thinking about one's own death leads to a stronger self-concept as individuals strive for symbolic immortality or leaving a lasting impact on the world, which can enhance their self-esteem and reduce existential anxiety.

Question 20

George is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, so he and his wife consult an attorney to draw up and sign documents giving George's wife the legal authority to make decisions about George's care. Such a document is called:
A) living will
B) a probated will
C) a medical power of attorney
D) a right to die document

Accepted Answer

A medical power of attorney is a legal document that grants someone (in this case, George's wife) the authority to make medical decisions on behalf of another person (George) if he becomes unable to do so due to illness, injury or disability. This document is separate from a living will, which outlines specific wishes for end-of-life medical care, and a probated will, which deals with the distribution of assets after a person dies. A right to die document is not the same as a medical power of attorney and is not necessarily applicable in this scenario.

Quiz 18: Death and Dying

When Elisabeth Kübler-Ross began her research on death and dying in the 1960s, she commonly observed all of the following EXCEPT:

Jodi is dying from a rare blood disorder, but insists that her doctor has made a mistake in the diagnosis. Jodi's reaction is best considered to be an example of which of Kübler-Ross's five stages of dying?

The text notes that today in the United States, we live in an era of "invisible death." By this, the text means that:

Generalizing from the text, terror management theory seems to provide the best predictions for which of the following groups of people?

According to the theory set forth by Kübler-Ross, the stage of adjustment in which the terminal patient has recognized that death will come is called:

Between 2003 and 2010, the number of hospice patients served in the United States:

A small town has experienced an unusually high suicide rate in recent years. Local officials try to prevent future suicides by concentrating their efforts on those most likely to commit suicide. These people would be:

Terry, a 73-year-old widower, was in the hospital for six months with cancer. Finally, the painful treatments got to be too much for him and he just gave up and let himself die. This passive form of suicide is best considered to be an example of:

According to the work of Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, which of the following statements best reflects the anger stage of dying?

Of the children who die before they reach age 18, the largest percentage falls into which of the following age group?

In 1900, the death rate of U.S. children under the age of 5 was ; in 2009 it was .

According to research cited in the text, when caregivers were asked to comment about the relief they felt following their loved one's death, about reported that death was a relief to them and about reported that they felt it provided a welcome relief to the person who died.

The text points out an inconsistency between hospice care and hospital care. Which of the following best captures the sense of that inconsistency?

Statistically speaking, which of the following people would be at the highest risk of suicide?

A legal document that informs both family and health-care workers of the signer's wish to avoid the use of "heroic measures" to maintain life in the event of irreversible illness is called a(n) :

The goal of hospice is to:

MacDonald's has established a network of "Ronald McDonald" houses near major hospitals so that families of very ill children will have a place to stay while visiting their ill child. This charity is best considered to be an example of:

According to terror management theory, thinking about one's own death leads to which of the following?

George is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, so he and his wife consult an attorney to draw up and sign documents giving George's wife the legal authority to make decisions about George's care. Such a document is called: