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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. Who tells Felicia at Christmas dinner, "You don't know what the f---- you're talking about"?

2. What does Maria tell Benny Austin about why she had to leave him?

3. How does BZ behave toward Maria the first time she met him at his house?

4. What is the charge at Maria and Carter's divorce hearing that is uncontested?

5. On the day of the hearing, Helene shows Maria a ring that was a gift from whom?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens when Maria leaves a party with an actor and they have sex and why is it significant?

2. How does Helene speak during Carter and Maria's divorce hearing and then after and why is it significant?

3. What does the hypnotist Maria sees tell her about her problems and how does she react?

4. What does watching the television and reading the newspaper reveal about Maria's state of mind?

5. What happens when Maria waits for a pay phone at the grocery store and what does it represent?

6. What fantasy does Maria have about Les and Kate and what does she realize about it?

7. What happens when Maria agrees to meet a director for a new film and what does it signify?

8. What happens when Maria and Kate have dinner at Felicia and Les Goodwin's house during the Christmas holiday and why is it significant?

9. What does Maria drop off at the doctor and why?

10. Why do Carter and Helene assume that Maria had something to do with BZ's death and what are the consequences?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the role of friendship in the novel.

1. What is the nature of Maria and Helene's friendship?

2. What is the nature of Maria and BZ's relationship?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the setting of the novel.

1. What role does the setting have in relation to the plot?

2. What is the relationship between the landscape and character development?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the use of language in the novel. What is the purpose of profanity and colloquial language? What is the function of dialogue?

(see the answer keys)

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