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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. The novel begins with a recalled conversation between Lisa Shilling and her parents. Which of Lisa's acquaintances is present for the conversation?

2. Betsy Goodman asks Jeremy Bernstein about Lisa Shilling's mental illness. Bernstein responds by...

3. The first person to suspect that perhaps Lisa Shilling did have a mental illness was...

4. The narrator describes Jeremy Bernstein as being shaped like what letter of the alphabet?

5. Mary Nell Fickett and Betsy Goodman compile a list of psychological conditions including paranoia, schizophrenia, split-personality, and paranoia. To whom do they think this list applies?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the family situation of the four main characters.

2. What aspect of Mary Nell Fickett's personality is demonstrated by her voluminous reading of psychology textbooks?

3. Why does Lisa Shilling believe that she is suffering form mental illness?

4. Why does Lisa Shilling tell her parents that she thinks she is mentally ill in front of her friend Mary Nell Fickett?

5. Why is Betsy Goodman the youngest of the major protagonists?

6. Why does Lisa Shilling feel more comfortable with her new friend Betsy Goodman than with her older friend Mary Nell Fickett?

7. Why is chapter one presented in italic type face?

8. What kind of a job does Jeremy Bernstein do as the high school guidance counselor?

9. In what is Mr. Shilling primarily interested?

10. Why does Lisa Shilling find herself attracted to Elizabeth Frazer, as a potential friend?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Mary Nell Fickett's father is the Reverend Fickett of a local congregation. Although the novel does not give many details about Rev. Fickett is is probably safe to assume he is Christian. Do you think that Mary Nell's character realistically portrays the daughter of a religious leader? What aspects (if any) of Mary Nell's character appear to epitomize the Christian faith? As you read the novel was it easy for you to accept that the Rev. Fickett was indeed a religious leader?

Essay Topic 2

Examine the role of class in the novel. Which characters act appropriately for their class? Who is the wealthiest character in the novel and how do they act? Who is the poorest character in the novel and how do they act?

Essay Topic 3

Examine the role of gender in the novel--do characters act they way they do because they are male or female? Which characters (if any) don't act like they 'should' for their gender?

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