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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 character begins the novel with a goal to be the first woman justice on the Supreme Court and ends the novel contemplating a career in psychology?

2. Why does Brian Morris break up his relationship with Lisa Shilling?

3. Whom does the narrator describe as being enthusiastic but not very practical?

4. Lisa Shilling's conversation with her parents opens the novel. What does Lisa tell her parents during this conversation?

5. Betsy Goodman is most-fascinated with which actor/actress?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Why do Mr. and Mrs. Shilling ignore their daughter's repeated assertions that she is mentally ill?

3. Why does Lisa Shilling believe that she is suffering form mental illness?

4. Who is the narrator in chapter one?

5. Describe the nature of the relationship between Brian Morris and Lisa Shilling in the early part of the novel.

6. Why does Elizabeth Frazer gradually become the de facto decision-maker of what is and is not good for Lisa Shilling?

7. Why does Betsy Goodman self-describe as the least important person in the narrative?

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

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

10. What kind of a job does Jeremy Bernstein do as the high school guidance counselor?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Which character causes the most harm to Lisa Shilling--Mr. Bernstein, Mr. Shilling, or Mrs. Shilling? Explain and defend your selection.

Essay Topic 2

Describe the process of maturation demonstrated by the character of Mary Nell Fickett. How does she change and grow during the events of the novel?

Essay Topic 3

Of the four primary mothers in the novel--Mrs. Shilling, Mrs. Goodman, Mrs. Fickett, and Mrs. Frazer--who would you least like to have as a mother? Why?

(see the answer keys)

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