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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which character is described by the narrator as trying "to hard to be clever, too hard to be quick, too hard at everything except at being himself" (pp. 28-29)?
(a) Mr. Shilling.
(b) Mr. Bernstein..
(c) Mr. Milne
(d) Dr. Donovan.

2. Mary Nell Fickett and Betsy Goodman initially turn to what source of information to research mental illness?
(a) The1959 edition of Encyclopedia Britannica.
(b) Principles of Abnormal Psychology by Maslow and Mittelmann.
(c) Various Internet sites.
(d) The dictionary.

3. After spending a few hours researching various topics in psychology and mental illness, Betsy Goodman is confused and decides to...
(a) Ignore the situation and just by Lisa Shilling's friend.
(b) Ask Mr. Bernstein what he thinks might be wrong with Lisa Shilling.
(c) Ignore the medical literature and come up with her own diagnosis.
(d) Stop being friends with Lisa Shilling and start going out with Brian Morris.

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

5. Which character is the youngest major character of the novel?
(a) Betsy Goodman.
(b) Mary Nell Fickett.
(c) Lisa Shilling.
(d) Elizabeth Frazer.

Short Answer Questions

1. Betsy Goodman asks Jeremy Bernstein about Lisa Shilling's mental illness. Bernstein responds by...

2. Lisa sarcastically says she admires a particular books titled...

3. Betsy Goodman states that she is...

4. Which character's father is a minister?

5. Lisa Shilling spends her six-week vacation in Florida doing what?

Short Essay Questions

1. Mental illness aside, how typical are the four main protagonists of the novel?

2. Who is the narrator in chapter one?

3. Describe the chronology of the four main characters' friendships (in other words, who is friends with whom first).

4. Describe Lisa on a so-called bright day and contrast that description to Lisa on a so-called dark day.

5. What kind of a job does Mr. Jackson do as the school principal?

6. Why does Lisa Shilling feel more comfortable with her new friend Betsy Goodman than with her older friend Mary Nell Fickett?

7. What kind of a job does Mr. Goodman do as an insurance salesman?

8. Describe the family situation of the four main characters.

9. Why does the narrator spend so much time establishing which protagonist is better looking, which is more intelligent, and which is from a wealthier family?

10. What kind of a job does Rev. Fickett do as a church reverend?

(see the answer keys)

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