Deck 16: Epilogue: Death and Dying

Question 1

Themes around death that occur in all of the known ancient cultures include all of the following EXCEPT:

A) Mourners respond to death with a set of rituals.
B) All dead bodies must be buried in the ground.
C) Actions in life impact what happens after death.
D) An afterlife exists.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Sigrid's mother recently died after a long illness. Though Sigrid has not attended religious services since she was a child, it is likely that she will:

A) become more religious after being confronted with this death.
B) refuse to attend the funeral.
C) not believe in any sort of life after death.
D) never move past her grief because she does not practice a religion.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

The study of death and dying is known as:

A) oncology.
B) gerontology.
C) thanatology.
D) ethnology.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

James, age 50, is terminally ill. He is primarily focused on:

A) his fear of death.
B) the pain he might suffer.
C) a fear of leaving something undone.
D) planning his funeral.

Question 5

Children as young as _____ have some sort of understanding of death, though they may not understand that the person will not come back to life.

A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4

Question 6

Max was in critical condition when he arrived at the ER. His heart stopped and he almost died, but thanks to quick intervention survived the ordeal. As he healed, he discussed having the sense of floating in light and experiencing a sense of peace. Max seems to have had a:

A) coma.
B) near-death experience.
C) terror management theory.
D) good death.

Question 7

Which of the following is TRUE about memorials to the dead?

A) There is a consensus among religions that memorials are an important part of the grieving process in every culture.
B) It is a Western practice that is antithetical to most Eastern cultures.
C) They are a relatively modern phenomenon.
D) They are only used in Christian services.

Question 8

A century ago, the average lifespan worldwide was _____ years.

A) 40
B) 48
C) 55
D) 72

Question 9

Which of the following is TRUE about older adults who think they may die soon?

A) They are more likely to want to spend time with a family member.
B) They are unlikely to believe in some kind of after life.
C) They give up on living.
D) They are unlikely to accept death as a part of life.

Question 10

The fact that more people fear flying than driving illustrates that attitudes about death tend to be:

A) largely informed by statistics.
B) focused on the changes that individuals should make in order to live longer lives.
C) major factors in our selection of transit.
D) largely irrational.

Question 11

One hundred years ago, most people died _____, while today they most often die in a hospital.

A) at home
B) at birth
C) while working
D) in public spaces

Question 12

Children who are terminally ill fear that death means they will be:

A) abandoned.
B) in pain.
C) saC.
D) bored.

Question 13

Margie's mother has been reluctant to tell her that Grandpa Bo is dead. After keeping Margie home with a babysitter during the funeral, her mother has said things like, "Grandpa Bo had to go away." But Margie has heard adults talking about the death, and senses that her mother is avoiding the topic, and has come to the conclusion that:

A) adults just want to protect their children.
B) the conversations were probably false and Grandpa Bo is just away for a while.
C) death is a terrifying topic that even adults can't discuss.
D) there are some things kids just shouldn't know.

Question 14

Across cultures, a result of near-death experiences is:

A) an increased fear of death.
B) scientific data on what happens to the dead.
C) a loss of the will to live.
D) a sense of hopefulness.

Question 15

Diversity within religions about responses to death are evident in the issue of organ donation, as:

A) every religion prohibits it.
B) most religions require it.
C) many religious leaders speak against it, but individuals do it anyway.
D) each religion has opinions both for and against it.

Question 16

According to _____, adolescents and emerging adults engage in high-risk behaviors in order to cope with their fear of death.

A) thanatology
B) terror management theory
C) reincarnation
D) bereavement

Question 17

Many developmentalists believe that one sign of mental health in older adults is:

A) denying death.
B) feeling guilty for what is undone.
C) accepting mortality.
D) focusing on the limits of old age.

Question 18

Which of the following statements is a way that death today is different from 100 years ago?

A) Death occurs earlier.
B) Dying occurs faster.
C) Death impacts more children.
D) Death has been removed from daily life.

Question 19

In late adulthood, attitudes about death shift. Anxiety _____ while hope _____.

A) decreases; increases
B) increases; increases
C) decreases; decreases
D) increases; decreases

Question 20

In Korea, how did religious practice change with regard to autopsies?

A) Religious leaders forbid autopsies.
B) A religious service was developed for use with autopsies.
C) Egyptian traditions were fused with Korean customs.
D) Most people abandon religious ceremonies because of their opposition to autopsies.

Question 21

Palliative care:

A) is the legal term for a living will.
B) does not occur in a hospice setting.
C) is not acceptable to most religions.
D) provides relief from physical pain.

Question 22

Medications for pain relief were once underprescribed for the terminally ill primarily because:

A) they are illegal.
B) they are expensive.
C) patients refuse them.
D) they are addictive.

Question 23

The goal of palliative care is to:

A) relieve patients from pain and suffering.
B) treat terminal illnesses.
C) study the experience of the dying.
D) treat advanced-stage diseases by any means possible.

Question 24

According to Maslow, which of the following is a stage involved in the dying process?

A) safety
B) denial
C) forgiveness
D) depression

Question 25

Hospice care is expensive because it:

A) is labor-intensive.
B) requires high-technology equipment.
C) requires elaborate facilities.
D) is so widely available.

Question 26

Juanita has just been evaluated by medical professionals. She cannot move any part of her body except for her eyes, but brain waves are still apparent. The doctor explains that Juanita is not dead, but:

A) has brain death.
B) is in a coma.
C) is in a vegetative state.
D) has locked-in syndrome.

Question 27

A person is in a state of deep unconsciousness from which he or she cannot be aroused has:

A) brain death.
B) a coma.
C) slipped into a vegetative state.
D) locked-in syndrome.

Question 28

The definition of death that has been used by professionals around the world for the past several decades states that death occurs when:

A) the person enters locked-in syndrome.
B) the eyes alone respond to pain.
C) noticeable respiration ceases.
D) brain waves cease.

Question 29

Medication that relieves pain and also hastens death has a:

A) double effect.
B) DNR.
C) good death.
D) hospice care.

Question 30

In what way has modern medicine made a good death more likely?

A) by confining most deaths to hospitals and nursing homes
B) by increasing the general levels of health so that most deaths occur in old age
C) by not discussing the likelihood of death with patients, so as not to scare them
D) by using whatever means necessary to prolong life at all times

Question 31

Researchers who have subsequently investigated Kübler-Ross's stages have found that:

A) some stages disappear and reappear.
B) none of the stages she described appear in modern deaths.
C) most people only experience one of the stages before dying.
D) everyone, regardless of culture, moves through the stages in the order she identified.

Question 32

Which of the following is a common barrier to hospice care?

A) Patients and their families must accept death.
B) Patients must be within two weeks of death to be admitteB.
C) Most people prefer to die in a hospital.
D) It is currently only available in England.

Question 33

Which of the following descriptions is NOT characteristic of a good death?

A) peaceful
B) quick
C) in familiar surroundings
D) being alone

Question 34

According to Kübler-Ross, the first stage of dying is:

A) anger.
B) denial.
C) depression.
D) bargaining.

Question 35

About what percentage of individuals admitted to hospice die before the end of the first week of hospice care?

A) 25%
B) 33%
C) 50%
D) 66%

Question 36

Mrs. Cannon has been diagnosed as terminally ill, but she insists that she will recover and believes that her laboratory results were mixed up or misinterpreted. Kübler-Ross would say that Mrs. Cannon is in the stage of:

A) acceptance.
B) bargaining.
C) denial.
D) depression.

Question 37

Opiates have a double effect, meaning that they both:

A) relieve pain and fight many infections.
B) reduce sedation and cause delirium.
C) relieve pain and slow respiration.
D) fight many infections and slow respiration.

Question 38

Laura has just entered a hospice. She can expect:

A) pain management.
B) artificial life-support systems.
C) restricted visiting hours for family and close friends.
D) to be resuscitated if she quits breathing on her own.

Question 39

Dr. Rodriguez specializes in the relief of pain and suffering. She frequently prescribes pain medicines like morphine for the terminally ill patients she sees in the hospital. Dr. Rodriguez specializes in:

A) pharmacy.
B) palliative care.
C) physician-assisted suicide.
D) thanatology.

Question 40

After an extensive review of studies on end of life brain functioning, researchers confirmed two indicators of death:

A) eye movement in the absence of brain waves and ceased respiration.
B) slow brain waves and ceased respiration.
C) eyes not responding to pain and the lack of heartbeat.
D) no spontaneous breathing and eyes not responding to pain.

Question 41

Mikal entered a state of deep unconsciousness after a serious accident. His cognitive functions have ceased though he is still breathing. His family and friends notice that his eyes have occasionally opened and he has made a few irregular sounds. Mikal:

A) is in a coma.
B) has brain death.
C) is in a vegetative state.
D) has locked-in syndrome.

Question 42

The deep sorrow that people feel after the death of another is called:

A) grief.
B) mourning.
C) a near-death experience.
D) resilience.

Question 43

Between 1998 and 2011, what percentage of the deaths in Oregon could be attributed to physician-assisted "death with dignity"?

A) 1
B) 5
C) 10
D) 25

Question 44

A DNR order:

A) can be used only by hospice workers.
B) allows a natural death.
C) is not available to the terminally ill.
D) is illegal in most U.S. states.

Question 45

An example of active euthanasia is when:

A) a doctor does not restore breathing after reading the patient's DNR order.
B) health care professionals limit painkilling drugs.
C) someone turns off a patient's respirator.
D) a patient refuses to eat.

Question 46

In countries where it is legal, _____ terminally ill individuals choose assisted suicide.

A) few
B) most
C) approximately half
D) no

Question 47

George is terminally ill and in constant pain. He has asked his doctor for a prescription he can use to end his life. If the doctor gives the prescription and George uses it to die, it is considered:

A) hospice care.
B) physician-assisted suicide.
C) passive euthanasia.
D) palliative care.

Question 48

A living will is written to identify:

A) that no attempt should be made to revive the person if they stop breathing.
B) the way property should be divided among heirs.
C) and pass along important family stories.
D) what medical intervention should be used if the person not conscious when a decision needs to be made.

Question 49

A person in a state characterized by prolonged cessation of all brain activity, with a complete absence of voluntary movements, has:

A) brain death.
B) a coma.
C) slipped into a vegetative state.
D) locked-in syndrome.

Question 50

Which of the following statements about living wills is TRUE?

A) Living wills enable health care professionals to make decisions exactly as the patient would have wanted.
B) Family members may override a living will.
C) Low-income individuals are especially likely to have a living will.
D) Even the most extensive living will cannot answer every question that may emerge.

Question 51

Which of the following is an example of passive euthanasia?

A) A doctor gives a patient a prescription for a lethal medication.
B) A husband injects his wife with an overdose of her medication, without her requesting this of him.
C) A patient asks his adult child to give him a lethal injection.
D) A doctor does not resuscitate a man who stops breathing after seeing that he had a DNR order.

Question 52

The average person today lives ______ as long as the average person did a century ago.

A) twice
B) three times
C) four times
D) just about

Question 53

In _____, a seriously ill person is allowed to die naturally, without any medical intervention.

A) assisted suicide
B) passive euthanasia
C) a health care proxy
D) active euthanasia.

Question 54

A person with which of the following conditions is considered dead?

A) a coma
B) brain death
C) a vegetative state
D) locked-in syndrome

Question 55

A person whom a dying person designates to make his or her medical decisions is a(n):

A) adult child.
B) health care proxy.
C) attorney.
D) hospice worker.

Question 56

A major argument against legalizing euthanasia is a concern that it may lead society to condone the killing of those who are not ready to die, creating a:

A) passive euthanasia.
B) health care proxy.
C) slippery slope.
D) death panel.

Question 57

Oregon's law regarding assisted suicide requires the:

A) patient to enter hospice care.
B) patient's illness to be confirmed by at least 4 physicians.
C) dying person to request the lethal drugs twice orally and once in writing.
D) consent of the next of kin.

Question 58

When Oregon residents' reasons for requesting physician-assisted suicide were assessed, which reason was identified as the least common?

A) loss of autonomy
B) loss of dignity
C) pain
D) loss of ability to enjoy life

Question 59

Some people designate a _____, or another person who can medical decisions for them if they are unable to do so.

A) health care proxy
B) living will
C) palliative care specialist
D) court

Question 60

In Oregon, which of the following groups is MOST likely to use physician-assisted suicide?

A) the oldest-old
B) the poor
C) European Americans
D) those with only a high school education

Question 61

In Western culture, viewing the deceased as a role model is seen as a healthy form of:

A) a continuing bond.
B) hallucination.
C) denial.
D) the slippery slope.

Question 62

Older adults who were securely attached in childhood are more likely to experience _____ grief when a loved one dies.

A) absent
B) complicated
C) normal
D) very little

Question 63

A longitudinal study of older married adults in Detroit found that widows and widowers who were depressed for years after the death of their spouse:

A) suffered from pathological grief.
B) were more resilient than other widows and widowers.
C) were the majority group in the study.
D) had also been depressed before the death of their spouse.

Question 64

Death occurs faster today than it did 100 years ago.

Question 65

A study on responses to the death of a spouse found that the majority of widows and widowers:

A) were, within 6 months, about as happy and productive as they had been before their spouse's death.
B) suffered from pathological grief, including extreme depression, for the first time in their lives.
C) experienced a significant improvement in mood due to reduced caregiving demands.
D) were slow to recover, but regained most of their ability to function within four years.

Question 66

Children do not understand death.

Question 67

Fear of death tends to subside in middle age.

Question 68

The type of grief in which people are not allowed to mourn publicly because of cultural customs or social restrictions is called:

A) incomplete grief.
B) disenfranchised grief.
C) complicated grief.
D) absent grief.

Question 69

Estelle's husband was flying a small plane when it disappeared above a wooded mountainside. His body was never recovered. In this loss, it is likely that Estelle is experiencing:

A) absent grief.
B) incomplete grief.
C) disenfranchised grief.
D) mourning.

Question 70

In a longitudinal study of older married adults in Detroit, almost all widows and widowers _____ their marriage.

A) minimized
B) idealized
C) quickly forgot
D) denigrated

Question 71

Paid obituaries in newspapers and roadside memorials illustrate the fact that mourners:

A) spend time and money on frivolous things.
B) sometimes want strangers to know about a death.
C) lose their sense of privacy.
D) find little comfort in public commemoration.

Question 72

Which of the following conditions may hinder the healing and affirmation of the bereaved?

A) experiencing a delay in recovering the body of the deceased
B) holding a funeral a few days after the death
C) having rosy recollections of the deceased person
D) believing in life after death

Question 73

Melina's father just died. She was very close to him, and simply cannot face the reality of his death. To those around her, it appears that Melina is not grieving at all. Melina is experiencing _____ grief.

A) complicated
B) disenfranchised
C) absent
D) incomplete

Question 74

What percentage of mourners experience extreme or complicated grief?

A) 5
B) 10
C) 15
D) 50

Question 75

An important function of the mourning process is to:

A) allow a private expression of pain following a death.
B) allow expression of grief publicly.
C) identify a point of blame for the death.
D) take one's mind off the loss of a loved one.

Question 76

The public and ritualistic expression of bereavement is called:

A) mourning.
B) sadness.
C) a near-death experience.
D) palliative care.

Question 77

A thanatologist would be interested in studying mourning rituals.

Question 78

Ted's ex-wife died suddenly. Although their two children were included in the memorial service, Ted was intentionally excluded. Because he still cared about his ex-wife, he experienced:

A) absent grief.
B) incomplete grief.
C) disenfranchised grief.
D) mourning.

Question 79

Grief appears to be experienced not only by humans, but also by animals.

Question 80

The type of grief that impedes a person's future life is called _____ grief.

A) complicated
B) absent
C) disenfranchised
D) incomplete