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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 and Cork go to the shop to buy?

2. What do Baez's neighbors believe the school has done?

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

4. What was Hughes' job in the film industry?

5. In what state is San Bernardino located?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do you think is the overall message of this chapter?

2. How do people treat their marriages in Las Vegas?

3. Why does Didion think it is important to work at self-respect?

4. How do the hippies react when Michael almost burns down the house?

5. What is Didion interested in learning about Michael?

6. Why did Didion choose Howard Hughes as her subject?

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

8. What makes Michael a difficult interviewee?

9. Describe Howard Hughes' house

10. Why is Joan Baez standing before the Monterey County Board of Supervisors?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write a 500-word essay addressing the following statement: Much of Didion's criticisms in the novel are based on nostalgic and personal feelings and she rarely looks at things from the point view of the new generation. Defend or attack that statement, and be sure to use evidence from the book to support your argument.

Essay Topic 2

Compare one of Didion's early essays to one of her later essays. How do her ideas about life change? How has her writing style changed?

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 668 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample