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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 does Larry Kulik tell Maria he's been hearing about her?

2. What excuse does Felicia give about Kate smashing her gift against the mirror?

3. In Vegas, when Maria sleeps with an actor who doesn't know who she is, what does he tell her when they are in bed?

4. In her dreams of Les Goodwin and Kate, Maria imagines the three of them going to the beach to do what?

5. According to Helene, what did the Guatemalan from the employment agency steal from Maria?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How does Helene speak during Carter and Maria's divorce hearing and then after 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 Larry Kulik tell Maria about what people are saying about her and what does it signify?

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

6. Why does Maria move out of her house in Beverly Hills to an apartment and what does it signify?

7. What did the girl Maria knew who had an abortion do to obtain one and how does she tell her story?

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

9. What does Maria do after she is unsuccessful in her attempt to reach Benny in Vegas?

10. When Carter tells Maria that his film will be showing at Cannes, how does she respond?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the representation of the film industry in the novel.

1. Discuss Maria's, Carter's, and BZ's professions within the industry.

2. How is the business of movie-making portrayed?

3. What is the dominant culture of the film industry?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss loss as a major theme in the novel. What has Maria lost in her life and how does she cope with loss?

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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