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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. Which of the women Mary interviewed is the oldest woman in the book?

2. How was the MIT Alice was very close to killed in New York?

3. Which of the women in the book are looking for "symmetrical relationships"?

4. What does Bateson claim helps a woman "discover underlying convictions that are steady throughout life"?

5. What does Bateson believe will be the result of "a commitment to constantly refocusing one's life"?

Short Essay Questions

1. What changed Joan's mind about whether or not she could ever be a successful dancer?

2. According to Mary, why did so many male-female relationships in the past fail?

3. What was Erik's theory of the life cycle while he was studying under Freud in the West Coast?

4. What is the traditional male-female relationship, and how did this begin to change in the 1960s?

5. What did Mary learn about society while visiting her mother's work with her?

6. How did Johnnetta use her academic experience to change the definition of what it meant to live "as a black woman"?

7. According to Bateson, how is life like jazz music?

8. How does Mary use the metaphor of a "crazy quilt" to explain society?

9. What does Bateson believe is the next big step for humanity across the world?

10. What struggles did Mary encounter when interviewing her four friends for this book?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Throughout the book, Mary describes the different ways women must divide their days in order to accomplish everything that needs to be accomplished. First, describe at least four different ways most women must divide their days. How does this division differ from the division of their husbands? What are the benefits of being a mulit-tasker? What are the downfalls? Be sure to include examples from the text to help strengthen your arguments.

Essay Topic 2

In chapter seven, Mary Bateson makes the statement that Americans are more comfortable giving things away completely than sharing. What do you think Bateson means by this saying? Do you agree with her? Why or why not? Finally, explain how you think this statement relates to the five women presented in the novel. Does this statement summarize any one woman or relationship in the text? If so, how? Be sure to include examples from the text to help strengthen your arguments.

Essay Topic 3

Throughout Mary's life, and particularly during her time at Amherst, Mary was subjected to the ugliness in the world, and in people. First, describe why Mary would consider her time at Amherst to be negative. What lessons did Mary learn about herself and society during that time? Then, describe the advice Mary gives to readers who also fear the loss of innocence and disillusionment in the world. Be sure to include examples from the text to strengthen your arguments.

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