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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. How do the teachers at Lisa Shilling's school agree to "help" (p. 90) Lisa?

2. Mr. Shilling meets with Rev. Fickett, Mr. Milne, and his daughter, and rejects their claim that Lisa Shilling is suffering from mental illness. What does Mr. Shilling do after the meeting ends?

3. Although Elizabeth Frazer is beautiful and "[b]oys thought she was sensational" (p. 97) she does not seem to have any friends or boyfriends. The narrator states this is because Elizabeth has what quality?

4. What does Lisa Shilling hope to accomplish by walking deliberately through a floor-to-ceiling window?

5. What does Mary Nell Fickett do as she continues to participate in group therapy sessions with Lisa Shilling?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Lisa Shilling's punctuality and dependability.

2. After Lisa Shilling deliberately walks through a glass window she is hospitalized with fairly serious injuries. She remains in the hospital for at least a few days. Mary Nell Fickett assumes that this suicide attempt necessarily will involve social workers who will force Mr. and Mrs. Shilling to confront Lisa's mental illness. However, this does not occur. Why?

3. After Lisa assaults Elizabeth, she makes her close friends make her a particular promise. What is the promise, and why does she make them accept it?

4. Cover photographs aside, what narratives clues are there that identify the four protagonists as white?

5. When discussing a movie about mental illness with her friends, Lisa Shilling comments on one particular aspect or scene of the movie that makes her uncomfortable. What is that aspect?

6. Describe some of Lisa Shilling's self-destructive behaviors.

7. Betsy Goodman is watching a television program about a mentally ill (and committed) patient when Lisa Shilling arrives. Why does Lisa's appearance make Betsy uncomfortable?

8. What techniques does Mrs. Shilling utilize to ignore her daughter Lisa's symptoms of mental illness?

9. What actions does Lisa Shilling take to attempt to convince her parents that she needs professional help?

10. Betsy Goodman meets with Mr. Bernstein several times and he explains why he cannot become involved. Yet she continues to turn to him for help. Why does Betsy continue to attempt to rely on Mr. Bernstein?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Examine the role of gender in the novel--do characters act they way they do because they are male or female? Which characters (if any) don't act like they 'should' for their gender?

Essay Topic 2

The novel presents four teenage girls who begin the year thinking about boys, dating, and sexuality. As the year progresses they think more and more about mental illness and less and less about dating. Discuss elements of sexuality within the novel--why are characters attracted to each other? Is Betsy attracted only to looks? Or does she have a deeper understanding of sexuality? Will she be successful as a married housewife?

Essay Topic 3

Imagine you are on a jury deciding the apportionment of 'blame' for Lisa's worsening condition. Which character of the novel would you select to receive the lion's share of the blame for Lisa spending many months with worsening symptoms without receiving adequate professional help. For this exercise, you may not select Mr. or Mrs. Shilling. Explain and defend your selection.

(see the answer keys)

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