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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. What kind of movie does BZ watch the first time Maria met him at his house?

2. Why does Maria move out of the house in Beverly Hills?

3. What does the hairdresser on the set give Maria?

4. What does the woman at the Ralph's Market snack counter tell Maria?

5. According to Helene, who was "shuttling them in and out of that motel like the dailies"?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Maria get home from Vegas after being arrested and why is it significant?

2. What happens when Maria leaves a party with an actor and they have sex and why is it significant?

3. What does watching the television and reading the newspaper reveal about Maria's state of mind?

4. What does Maria do when she runs into Benny Austin at the Flamingo and why?

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

6. Why is Maria arrested in Vegas?

7. How does Helene speak during Carter and Maria's divorce hearing and then after and why is it significant?

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the representation of the health industry in the novel.

1. How are medical professionals portrayed?

2. How are patient rights represented?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss conflict in the novel.

1. What is Maria's conflict with herself?

2. What is Maria's conflict with her friends and family?

3. What is Maria's conflict with society?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the relationship between mothers and daughters in the novel.

1. What is the nature of Maria and Kate's relationship?

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

(see the answer keys)

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