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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 did Lilly's mom do to her that may have contributed to Lilly's own troubles with drugs?

2. Who does James call when his visitors finally leave?

3. What does James hide from his roommates because he does not want to show he is vulnerable?

4. What does the doctor stitch closed for James?

5. How many days does James agree to stay at the clinic in his agreement with Leonard?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do James' brother and friends bring for James when they come to visit him at the clinic?

2. What does James feel about the AA meetings in relation to their ability to help addicts?

3. What are the results of James' MMPI that Joanne reviews and shares with him?

4. What are some of the drugs James confesses to doing when providing information to the nurse?

5. Why does James turn up the heat in the shower when he is bathing his body?

6. What does James see when he looks in the mirror after waking up in the medical wing?

7. What does James do when Roy threatens to get James thrown out of the clinic?

8. Even though it has been proven that addiction is a disease, what does James think is the cause of addiction?

9. What does James' father do for him when they are at the cabin in Wisconsin?

10. What does James do when his parents try to hug him in concern for his condition?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

At times, the idea of addiction seems to be glamorized in this novel, showing the reader just how 'cool' some people think it is to be a drug addict.

Part 1: List three examples of glamorization of drug use in this story.

Part 2: What are the reactions to these glamorization instances in this story? How do the characters react?

Part 3: Does it seem that Frey, the author, believes drugs are glamorous? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

The clinic has a strict policy that men and women are not supposed to interact with each other - but James and Lilly ignore this rule in favor of trying to help each other.

Part 1: How do James and Lilly meet initially in this story?

Part 2: What is Lilly's story as it relates to addictions and past traumas?

Part 3: Why do you think the clinic has this rule in the first place? Doesn't bonding with someone else help to speed up the healing process?

Essay Topic 3

The idea of a User Dream is one that seems to repeat itself throughout the story.

Part 1: Define the idea of a User Dream.

Part 2: Describe one of James' User Dreams and how he comes to interpret it.

Part 3: What is the significance of the User Dream in this story? What does it say about James? About drug addiction?

(see the answer keys)

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