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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 does Natalie say that she would like to study at Smith College?

2. What interesting thing does Augusten catch his mother eating?

3. What happens to Dr. Finch after the close of the memoir?

4. What state do the Burroughs and Finches travel to for Deirdre's " 'round the clock" recovery?

5. To what ocean do Augusten and Natalie travel to whale watch?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens when Brenda comes to visit the Finch family?

2. What does Augusten realize about the places that he has lived in relationship to his hopes and dreams for the future?

3. What does Augusten remember about the Christmas tree that his mother brought home when Augusten was 10?

4. What happens when Natalie loses her earrings in the hotel?

5. What happens when Augusten sets out to dye Neil Bookman's hair?

6. What significant event happens during Natalie and Augusten's first live performance at the mental health hospital?

7. What does Augusten witness on the last night before Deirdre is taken away by the police?

8. What does Deirdre confess to Augusten that drives a wedge between him and Natalie?

9. After Neil Bookman has been gone for over a year, what realization does Augusten come to about their relationship?

10. What messages does Hope claim to be receiving from the cat through her dreams?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

All through his life, Augusten wanted to be famous.

Part 1.) Give three examples in which Augusten showed his desire for celebrity.

Part 2.) Now that Augusten actually is famous, explain how Augusten treats his family.

Part 3.) Hypothesize on whether or not fame and celebrity is what Augusten was hoping for when he was a child.

Essay Topic 2

At the conclusion of the memoir, many readers will side with Augusten in his belief that the Finch household was a terrible place to grow up, but they were the only stability that he had as a child. Give three examples of times when the Finches proved that they had Augusten's best interests at heart, and explain why the Finches may have been portrayed in a bad light throughout the memoir.

Essay Topic 3

Augusten's biological brother, Troy, makes only one appearance throughout the memoir.

Part 1.) Describe Augusten's encounter with Troy in New York and the realization that Augusten had about his family after it.

Part 2.) Compare and contrast Augusten's relationship with his biological brother Troy to his relationship with his adopted sister Natalie. Which relationship seemed to have a larger effect on Augusten's view of the world? Use examples from the text to support your argument.

(see the answer keys)

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