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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. About whom does the nighttime talk show host talk?

2. Where does Didion hear that an accident happened?

3. Who does Didion think the area excludes?

4. What does Didion write about in this essay?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. In what way does Newport Beach disappoint Didion?

2. Summarize the book.

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

4. Describe the history of Sacramento.

5. How does Didion feel when visiting Pearl Harbor?

6. Why does Didion decide to move to Los Angeles?

7. What are Didion's thoughts about the island?

8. What is the theme of this essay?

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

10. Describe Alcatraz Island as depicted in this essay.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Using two sources outside of the book, write a critical essay on one of Didion's own essays. Do you agree or disagree with central themes of her work? Support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

How much do the students think what Didion remembers about the Sacramento Valley is merely nostalgia? How do you think the children living there now will remember the Sacramento Valley? How does Didion's nostalgia either take away or add to the validity to the points Didion tries to make?

Essay Topic 3

Write a critical essay about one of the following statements:

1) John Wayne was a force of nature, a man who could beat cancer and return to his life as if nothing had happened.

2) The free-thinking, 1960s California created an environment where a person like Joan Baez could thrive.

3) Michael Laski is a young man with warped ideals who hides in a group of radicals rather than take a chance to be who he is.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 841 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample