Name: _________________________ | Period: ___________________ |
This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.
Short Answer Questions
1. What does Bill say that he has to remember about going into restaurants?
2. What does Bill Bryson like about his new home town?
3. What does Bryson think is sad about how things are changing in modern Vermont?
4. What does Bill say is ridiculous about a VCR?
5. What does Bryson find amazing about the geography of the United States?
Short Essay Questions
1. "Friendly People" begins with Mrs. Bryson telling Bill that all he did in his columns was make negative comments about the United States. He goes on to say there are a lot of things he likes about America. What are some of those things?
2. What comparison does Bryson make between American baseball and English cricket in "Take Me Out to the Ballpark"?
3. In "On the Hotline," how does dental floss become the topic of this essay? What is the outcome of Bryson's reading the fine print on his floss packaging?
4. How does Bryson feel about gardening? What are his feelings concerning gardening with his mate in "Gardening With My Wife"?
5. "The Cupholder Revolution" details the proliferation of cupholders. What does Bryson have to say about them?
6. In "Mail Call," what points does Bryson bring up to compare American post offices and British post offices? Why does he prefer American post offices?
7. "Tales of the North Woods" tells the reader something about the wilder side of New Hampshire, Bryson's new home state. What information does he share with the reader about the wilderness of New Hampshire?
8. Why does Bryson find going to a restaurant in the United States so difficult, as expressed in "What's Cooking"? How does he address the issue of the many varieties of food out there?
9. Why does Bryson hate calling the computer helpline, as he outlines in "Help!"? How does he react to hotlines in general?
10. In "The Risk Factor," how does Bryson explain that the average American is twice as likely to die accidentally as the average Briton?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
"I'm a Stranger Here Myself" is a first person narrative, told from Bill Bryson's point-of-view. Briefly explain how the first person narrative is effective and how it is limited. Give four specific examples that show how the memoir is effectively told from Bill Bryson's point of view. How is our vicarious experience enhanced by Bryson's choice of first person?
Essay Topic 2
Why do you think Bill Bryson included Essay 69, "An Address to the Graduating Glass of Kimball Union Academy"? What do you think his intent was? Discuss three points of advice that he included in his speech.
Essay Topic 3
What are some techniques Bill Bryson uses to make the real events of his life back in the United States come alive? Illustrate with one or two examples for each technique.
This section contains 1,336 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) |