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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 is the name of the street Hughes lives on?

2. Of which musician is this essay a portrait?

3. What does a person with self respect use their failings to do?

4. What does Didion say comes with self respect?

5. What was Wayne the definition of for Didion?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Baez act in court?

2. Why did Didion choose to write the Howard Hughes essay?

3. How does Max live his life as a hippie?

4. Describe Lucille Miller's life at the beginning of Part 1.

5. Why is Didion unsuccessful in speaking to the Malakoff Diggers?

6. What does Lucille tell the police happened on October 7, 1964?

7. Why does Didion think she wrote about the woman in a dirty wrapper?

8. How has Las Vegas turned marriage into a big business?

9. What do Didion's notes help her to realize?

10. What is Didion's view on Las Vegas weddings?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The essays are mostly set in California.

1) What meaning does California bring to the essays?

2) How different do you think today's California is from the California in the novel? How do you think the book's meaning would change if it were set in today's California?

Essay Topic 2

Examine the books chronological setting.

1) What were the main concerns during the 1960s? How does Didion express these concerns?

2) In what ways do you think the essays' meanings would change if they were set in today's society?

Essay Topic 3

Write a 500-word essay addressing the following statement: None of Didion's peers challenge her beliefs and, because of that, her essays do not express any new ideas.

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