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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. According to Freddy Chaikin, what is the best medicine for things wrong in the private life department?

2. Who sends Maria two dozen roses when she returns home after being arrested in Vegas?

3. According to Maria, who probably pages her at the casino where she has run out on Benny Austin?

4. When Maria comes home and finds Ivan Costello drunk in her house and she tells him "No", how does he respond?

5. What does Helene ask Carter as they wait for the papers to be signed at the divorce hearing?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Carter want Maria to stay with him in the desert where he is shooting and what happens?

2. How does BZ respond to Maria's pleas that he stop hitting Helene the night after she blacks out?

3. What does Maria realize about the day of the audition?

4. What does the hypnotist Maria sees tell her about her problems and how does she react?

5. What happened the last time Maria saw her mother and how does it parallel Maria's situation?

6. What happens when Maria agrees to meet a director for a new film and what does it signify?

7. What fantasy does Maria have about Les and Kate and what does she realize about it?

8. What does Maria remember about meeting BZ for the first time and what does it foreshadow?

9. What is significant about Maria's meeting with Les Goodwin the day of her abortion?

10. What happens when Maria and Kate have dinner at Felicia and Les Goodwin's house during the Christmas holiday and why is it significant?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the Point of View in the novel.

1. Discuss the rotating points of views in the novel:

a. Maria's third person and first person point of views.

b. Helene's point of view.

c. Carter's point of view.

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 role of friendship in the novel.

1. What is the nature of Maria and Helene's friendship?

2. What is the nature of Maria and BZ's relationship?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 846 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample