2. How does Mrs. Shilling respond when Mary Nell Fickett tries to tell her that Lisa Shilling has a mental illness that needs treatment?
(a) She refuses to listen and tells Mary Nell to go away.
(b) She immediately calls a mental hospital.
(c) She laughs and says she already knows.
(d) She slaps Mary Nell and calls the police.

3. Betsy Goodman is most-fascinated with which actor/actress?
(a) Shirley MacLaine.
(b) Paul Newman.
(c) Clint Eastwood.
(d) Gregory Peck.

4. When Betsy Goodman finds Mary Nell Fickett and Lisa Shilling in Mr. Milne's classroom, Lisa Shilling is hiding underneath Mr. Milne's desk and doing what?
(a) Copying the answer key to the next day's examination.
(b) Sobbing about her break up with Brian Morris.
(c) Repeatedly sticking a pin into her wrist.
(d) Reading a book about psychiatry.

5. Mary Nell Fickett's approach to helping Lisa Shilling initially consists of...
(a) Trying to hypnotize Lisa.
(b) Trying to match Lisa's symptoms to a psychological diagnosis.
(c) Paying for Lisa to receive electro-shock therapy.
(d) Using Rorschach ink blot analysis techniques.

6. Betsy Goodman says her father calls "choosing what you want to hear and concentrating only on that" (p. 18) by the phrase...
(a) Living in your own world.
(b) Selective inattention.
(c) A blind spot.
(d) Wishful thinking.

7. The first story that Betsy Goodman heard about Lisa Shilling's strange behavior happened on...
(a) The first anniversary of Lisa and Brian Morris' going steady.
(b) Paul Newman's newest film's opening night.
(c) Ben Goodman's graduation.
(d) Mary Nell Fickett's birthday.

8. Whom does the narrator describe as being enthusiastic but not very practical?
(a) Mr. Frazer.
(b) Rev. Fickett.
(c) Mr. Bernstein.
(d) Mr. Shilling.

9. Mary Nell Fickett and Betsy Goodman compile a list of psychological conditions including paranoia, schizophrenia, split-personality, and paranoia. To whom do they think this list applies?
(a) Elizabeth Frazer.
(b) Jeremy Bernstein.
(c) Brian Morris.
(d) Lisa Shilling.

10. Lisa Shilling's conversation with her parents opens the novel. After that conversation what does Lisa do?
(a) Goes shopping with her friends.
(b) Goes to school and flunks her English test.
(c) Moves out of the house to live with her boyfriend.
(d) Lays on her bead and smashes her head against the headboard.

11. According to the narrator, who is "the gasp!!!!" (p. 23) of the school?
(a) Jeremy Bernstein.
(b) Ben Goodman.
(c) Brian Morris.
(d) Tracy Shilling.

12. After Lisa Shilling's self-mutilation episode at school, her parents performed what action?
(a) They incarcerated Lisa in a mental institution.
(b) They sent Lisa alone to Florida for six weeks.
(c) They filed a restraining order against Brian Morris.
(d) They filed a lawsuit against the school.

13. Mary Nell Fickett explains how she intends to help Lisa Shilling--she refers to the process as...
(a) Therapy-ize.
(b) Mesmerize.
(c) Psychoanalyze.
(d) Hypnotize.

14. The novel is set in what U.S. State?
(a) New York.
(b) New Jersey.
(c) Connecticut.
(d) Georgia.

15. How does Lisa Shilling react when Brian Morris breaks up with her?
(a) She blames Mary Nell Fickett for coming between them.
(b) She weeps hysterically for weeks.
(c) She seems largely unaffected.
(d) She begins to stalk him.

Short Answer Questions

1. Which character is described by the narrator as a "quiet, distinguished-looking man about sixty who has real style...[he] can talk with you and make you feel instantly at home" (p. 30)?

2. In the novel's title "Lisa, Bright and Dark", to what does the term "Dark" refer?

3. The school guidance counselor's name is...

4. According to the narrator, who is the cutest boy in school?

5. While Mary Nell Fickett talks to Mrs. Shilling about Lisa Shilling, Betsy Goodman talks to whom?

(see the answer keys)

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