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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. Where does Didion use her charge card in order to eat?

2. Of what old adage does the area remind Didion?

3. Who remained with the young's man's body?

4. Didion states that the Donner party reverted to _______________________.

5. What has Didion been told to expect?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Didion's upbringing in Sacramento.

2. Why does Didion think no one can truly define what is moral?

3. Why is Didion finding Los Angeles depressing in this essay?

4. Describe Alcatraz Island as depicted in this essay.

5. How do the Los Angeles citizens know when the Santa Ana winds are about to blow?

6. What problems does Didion face when she and her husband visit her family?

7. What does Didion think of Newport Beach?

8. In what way does Newport Beach disappoint Didion?

9. How do the scientists think the Santa Ana winds work to cause psychological changes?

10. What is the theme of this essay?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Choose one of the essays in the book and answer the following questions:

1) What is the main argument of the essay?

2) How does Didion construct the argument?

3) Are there any weaknesses in her argument?

Essay Topic 2

Examine how Hollywood had changed in the Sixties compared to Hollywood in the Thirties and the Forties in terms of the following:

1) Film stories, style and themes

2) The general running of the industry.

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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