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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. What did Lucille douse her husband with before the crash?

2. What does Didion not understand about the center?

3. What is Michael careful not to talk about?

4. What does Didion begin to wonder?

5. Which of the following words does Didion use to describe self respect?

Short Essay Questions

1. How has Las Vegas turned marriage into a big business?

2. Into what does Michael give Didion an insight?

3. Why does Didion keep notes?

4. What reason does Didion give for the center's existence?

5. How does Baez act in court?

6. What does Lucille tell the police happened on October 7, 1964?

7. How does Didion describe Las Vegas weddings?

8. Why did Didion choose to write the Howard Hughes essay?

9. Describe Howard Hughes' house

10. Why did Joan Baez become a performer?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How had America changed since the Fifties to allow for a communist radical such as Michael Laski?

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

Choose one of the famous people Didion portrays in the book and examine his/her life. How does Didion represent him or her in the essay? Is this an accurate representation of this person?

(see the answer keys)

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