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

2. In her dreams, where are the "hacked pieces of human flesh" found?

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

4. Why does Maria feel a rush of shame when she tells Benny Austin to come see her in Los Angeles?

5. At three in the morning in the desert, when Maria asks Carter, "Why do you fight," what does he say?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Maria prepare to meet Les in a hotel room and what happens when he arrives?

2. What does Maria drop off at the doctor and why?

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

4. Why do Carter and Helene assume that Maria had something to do with BZ's death and what are the consequences?

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

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

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

8. When Ivan Costello returns Maria's phone call, how does he behave and what does it signify?

9. How does Maria react when she begins to bleed after the abortion and why?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the use of language in the novel. What is the purpose of profanity and colloquial language? What is the function of dialogue?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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