View a FREE sample

This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In "Telling Stories," how many stories does Didion say she completed for English 106A?
(a) 0.
(b) 1.
(c) 5.
(d) 3.

2. In "Telling Stories," what does Didion attribute to why she got a B in English 106A?
(a) Her teacher's kindness and understanding.
(b) Her excellent writing.
(c) Her class participation.
(d) Her teacher's disorganization.

3. In "Telling Stories," what novel does Didion say developed from her notes that began about a man and woman in New York?
(a) The Sacramento River.
(b) Run River.
(c) A River Runs Through it.
(d) A Book of Common Prayer.

4. In "Telling Stories," what does Didion say compelled her to try writing short stories again after 10 years?
(a) Her interest in portraying a window into someone's world.
(b) The fear she would not write another novel.
(c) Her boredom with long prose.
(d) A lack of ideas.

5. In "Telling Stories," what short story does Didion discuss as an example of her lack of control in writing?
(a) "Home Sweet Home."
(b) "Coming Home."
(c) "Telling Stories."
(d) "Leaving Home."

6. Which friend of Hemingway and his wife does Didion mention at the start of "Last Words"?
(a) Peggy.
(b) Polly.
(c) Pam.
(d) Pauline.

7. What wife of Hemingway's is mentioned at the start of "Last Words"?
(a) Henrietta.
(b) Holly.
(c) Hadley.
(d) Hildy.

8. In "Last Words," what is Hemingway said to have done to his letters after Ford Madox Ford told him to "write a letter thinking of how it would read to posterity"?
(a) He burned his letters.
(b) He published his letters.
(c) He locked up all his letters.
(d) He rewrote all of his letters.

9. What did Hemingway undergo in February 1961 according to Didion in "Last Words"?
(a) Psychotherapy.
(b) A heart transplant.
(c) Chemotherapy.
(d) Shock treatment.

10. In "Last Words," who is Hemingway said to have written telling him to give up the idea of writing a book on him because he did not wish to cooperate?
(a) George Orwell.
(b) Charles S Dutton.
(c) Charles A. Fenton.
(d) F. Scott Fitzgerald.

11. In "Long Distance Runner," what argument does Didion cite when discussing how Richardson liked to be contrary?
(a) That all of his films should be burned.
(b) That all black and white films should be colorized.
(c) That all foreign films should be made in English.
(d) That all silent films should be overdubbed.

12. What is English 106A, the course Didion discusses in "Telling Stories"?
(a) An American literature class.
(b) A poetry workshop.
(c) A writer's workshop.
(d) A British Lit class.

13. Didion says that one of the pictures in her mind when she began her novel Play it as It Lays came from an incident in what city?
(a) Sacramento.
(b) Los Angeles.
(c) New York.
(d) Las Vegas.

14. Who found Hemingway after he had shot himself in 1961?
(a) His agent.
(b) His wife.
(c) His brother.
(d) His son.

15. What is one of the images Didion says many people have seen of Hemingway?
(a) Drinking scotch.
(b) Playing baseball.
(c) Riding in a rodeo.
(d) Fencing bulls.

Short Answer Questions

1. In "Telling Stories," what Hemingway short story does Didion mention as an example of a writer's "absolute control" (54)?

2. What did Mary Hemingway allow Carlos Baker to do in his book published after Hemingway's death?

3. In "Some Women," Didion says that Mapplethorpe's photograph always exhibit a tension between what?

4. For what publication was Hemingway working when he would sometimes rewrite submissions for practice?

5. What mandatory class did Didion need to take at Berkeley before she could graduate?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 580 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample