Quiz Upside Down Danielle Steel

Upside Down by Danielle Steel: 20-Question Book Quiz

Use this quiz to check your understanding of Upside Down. The questions are divided into plot/sequence, character motivation, theme/symbol, and synthesis sections. After the questions you will find the complete answer key with brief explanations.

Plot & Sequence Questions (8 Questions)

  1. Multiple choice: Where does Ardith Law first meet Josh Gray?

    • A) At a Hollywood audition
    • B) At the Golden Globes, when he arrives as her assistant
    • C) At Bill West's funeral
    • D) On a film set in England

  2. Short answer: What sudden event causes Ardith to become profoundly alone at the end of Chapter 3?

  3. Multiple choice: Why does Morgan delay her flight to Los Angeles after Bill's funeral?

    • A) She has an emergency surgery
    • B) She chooses to stay an extra day with Ben Ryan
    • C) Her flight is cancelled due to weather
    • D) She is angry at Ardith and avoids going

  4. Sequence: Place these events in the correct chronological order:

    • a. Ben learns that Tracy used donor sperm.
    • b. Tracy is arrested for extortion and fraud.
    • c. Tracy claims she is pregnant and threatens a rape accusation.
    • d. Perry Blackstone delays the DNA test because Tracy is less pregnant than claimed.

  5. Multiple choice: How does the paternity crisis against Ben finally resolve?

    • A) Tracy admits she lied
    • B) DNA tests prove the baby is not Ben's, and sperm bank records show Tracy purchased donor sperm
    • C) Ben pays Tracy a settlement
    • D) Morgan confronts Tracy and forces a confession

  6. Short answer: What does Ardith witness from the castle courtyard that makes her believe Josh has died?

  7. Multiple choice: Where do Ardith and Josh ultimately get married?

    • A) In a church in Bel Air
    • B) At a registrar's office in an English village
    • C) On a beach in Venice
    • D) In a Las Vegas chapel

  8. Sequence: Order these key events in Ardith's journey with Josh:

    • a. Ardith and Josh make love for the first time.
    • b. Josh proposes at sunrise in Africa.
    • c. Josh arrives on a Harley and triggers Ardith's panic button.
    • d. Ardith agrees to marry Josh after the plane crash scare.

Character Motivation Questions (5 Questions)

  1. Multiple choice: Why does Josh continue to work for Ardith without pay after the studio cancels his assignment?

    • A) He hopes Ardith will give him a movie role
    • B) He feels obligated to Bill West
    • C) He genuinely cares for Ardith and wants to support her through grief
    • D) He has no other job prospects

  2. Short answer: What drives Morgan's long-standing resentment toward her mother Ardith?

  3. Multiple choice: Why does Ardith initially resist marrying Josh even though she loves him?

    • A) She doesn't think he is serious about acting
    • B) She fears the age gap will eventually ruin their happiness
    • C) She wants to focus on her career
    • D) She is still in love with Bill West

  4. Short answer: What changes Morgan's attitude toward her mother during her trip to Paris?

  5. Multiple choice: Ben Ryan is motivated to keep his relationship with Morgan discreet initially because:

    • A) He is ashamed of their age difference
    • B) He doesn't want to jeopardize his reputation at work
    • C) Morgan insists on secrecy
    • D) He is still married

Theme & Symbol Questions (4 Questions)

  1. Multiple choice: The Harley-Davidson motorcycle that Josh rides and later gives to Ardith symbolizes:

    • A) Wealth and status
    • B) Freedom, rebellion, and breaking free from societal expectations
    • C) Youth and recklessness
    • D) The connection to Bill West

  2. Short answer: The title Upside Down most directly reflects which major theme in the novel?

  3. Multiple choice: The Impressionist painting that Josh helps Ardith hang in Chapter 2 represents:

    • A) Ardith's refined taste and control over her environment
    • B) The cost of fame
    • C) The fragility of relationships
    • D) Ardith's connection to her late husband

  4. Short answer: What does the plane crash in Chapter 17 ultimately symbolize for Ardith?

Synthesis Questions (3 Questions)

  1. Multiple choice: How do the parallel age-gap relationships (Ardith/Josh and Morgan/Ben) contrast in their handling of public scrutiny?

    • A) Both couples hide their relationships from the media
    • B) Ardith and Josh openly appear together, while Morgan and Ben remain discreet for longer
    • C) Morgan and Ben flaunt their relationship, while Ardith and Josh keep it secret
    • D) Both couples face identical levels of media attention

  2. Short answer: Explain one way that Josh's role as Ardith's assistant transforms into something more, using evidence from the story.

  3. Multiple choice: Which of the following best summarizes the novel's message about second chances?

    • A) Age differences always destroy relationships
    • B) Love and trust can be rebuilt after betrayal, and it is never too late for happiness
    • C) Fame prevents genuine connection
    • D) Family approval is essential for a relationship to succeed

Answer Key

  1. B: At the Golden Globes, when he arrives as her assistant. The producers send Josh as Ardith's temporary assistant, and his dramatic arrival on a Harley startles her.
  2. Answer: Bill West dies of a heart attack in his sleep in London. Ardith receives the news at 1 a.m. and grieves alone.
  3. B: She chooses to stay an extra day with Ben Ryan. She postpones her flight to L.A. until Sunday night to spend the weekend with Ben.
  4. Correct order: c, d, a, b. (c: Tracy claims pregnancy and threats; d: DNA test delayed; a: Ben learns about donor sperm; b: Tracy arrested.)
  5. B: DNA tests prove the baby is not Ben's, and sperm bank records show Tracy purchased donor sperm. Betsey Lane provides the incriminating file.
  6. Answer: She sees a small plane explode and crash to the ground. She believes Josh was on that plane.
  7. B: At a registrar's office in an English village. The simple ceremony takes place after filming wraps, with the cast and crew present.
  8. Correct order: c, a, b, d. (c: Josh arrives on Harley; a: first lovemaking after Bill's funeral; b: proposal in Africa; d: marriage agreement after plane crash.)
  9. C: He genuinely cares for Ardith and wants to support her through grief. Even though the studio ends his paid assignment, Josh continues without telling her.
  10. Answer: Morgan resents Ardith for prioritizing her acting career and being absent during Morgan's childhood, especially after her father died.
  11. B: She fears the age gap (21 years) will eventually ruin their happiness. She is afraid of risking their perfect bond.
  12. Answer: She meets Ben's daughter Amanda, who shares her philosophy of releasing childhood grievances. This inspires Morgan to reconsider her resentment toward Ardith.
  13. B: He doesn't want to jeopardize his reputation at work. As a TV news anchor, he worries about public perception.
  14. B: Freedom, rebellion, and breaking free from societal expectations. The motorcycle represents Josh's unconventional lifestyle and the couple's rejection of age-related judgments.
  15. Answer: The reversal of traditional roles and expectations—specifically an older woman/younger man romance and a daughter dating a man her mother's age.
  16. A: Ardith's refined taste and control over her environment. It shows her cultivated, elegant world that Josh enters.
  17. Answer: The near-loss of Josh breaks Ardith's fear of commitment and leads her to fully embrace marriage. It symbolizes her release from past grief and her willingness to take a risk on love.
  18. B: Ardith and Josh openly appear together (e.g., Oscars), while Morgan and Ben remain discreet for longer because of Ben's career concerns and the paternity crisis.
  19. Sample answer: Josh starts as a paid errand boy but after Bill's death he voluntarily supports Ardith, helps plan the funeral, offers emotional comfort, and eventually becomes her romantic partner and soulmate.
  20. B: Love and trust can be rebuilt after betrayal, and it is never too late for happiness. Both couples overcome crises and age prejudice to find lasting love.

For further analysis, see the full book summary, questions and answers, or the ending explained.