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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. Maria's mother ran her car off the highway outside of what town?

2. What accessory does Helene bring to the hospital for Maria that belongs to her?

3. At BZ and Helene's, why does Maria focus on remembering brushing Kate's hair?

4. According to Helene, who are the people BZ's mother Carlotta "can't bear"?

5. What is the name of the street where the doctor Maria went to see about the pregnancy practices?

Short Essay Questions

1. In the period before Maria has her abortion, what does she think about her mother's death and why is it significant?

2. When Maria tells Carter that she is pregnant and that he may not be the father, how does he respond and why is it significant?

3. What does Maria do when she arrives in Baker, the location where Carter is shooting, and what does it represent?

4. What kind of man was Maria's father and what impact did it have on Maria?

5. Where does Maria begin to sleep after her breakup with Carter and why is it significant?

6. What does Maria do the first month after she and Carter break up and what does it signify?

7. What is the coral snake Maria thinks about as the novel opens a metaphor of?

8. What kind of arrangements does Maria have to make in order to terminate her pregnancy at this time?

9. What is the only time in Maria's day where she does not think about the past nor is overcome with dread?

10. What time does Maria want to be on the freeway and why is it significant?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the importance of Maria's dreams in the novel. Choose 2 dreams and analyze their significance.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the role of class in the novel.

1. What is the impact of class mobility on the characters?

2. How are differences in class represented?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the treatment of women in the novel. What roles are women valued for and why? What is the relationship between equality and power in the ways in which women are treated?

(see the answer keys)

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