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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. Why does Marya want to stay where she is?

2. How is Marya handling a job and school?

3. Where does Marya find herself in 1991?

4. Whom does Marya ask to tell her if she has gained weight?

5. By Christmas, what does she weigh?

Short Essay Questions

1. While going to American University, what happens to Marya's body and mind?

2. What will Marya always worry about?

3. Why is Marya afraid to fall asleep, and how does not sleeping affect her?

4. What gives Marya the ability to carry on with her life and fight everyday?

5. Whom does she now harass to talk to about her weight?

6. How does Marya begin leading a double life in this section of the novel?

7. What are Marya's main reasons for not committing suicide or giving up on living?

8. In Interlude-November 5, 1996, what does Marya describe?

9. Why do Marya's bad habits with food quickly come back?

10. What marks the point where Marya's life starts to fall apart again?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Marya considers bulimics to be very passionate and filled with desires. They, in her opinion, are also weak and always give in. Do you agree or disagree with her statement? Does it makes sense to you?

Essay Topic 2

Marya notices that the women in her family have a terrible problem with food. Choose three of Marya's family members and discuss their feelings about food. How are they similar or different to Marya's food issues?

Essay Topic 3

As the novel reaches its climax, Marya's weight plummets. How does the author use this information to build suspense and propel her plot along? What literary techniques does the author employ? Do you think he is successful?

(see the answer keys)

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