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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 each boy bet in the contest?

2. What does the narrator say ruined a high class New Jersey party?

3. The head of the camp swears in the boys with an oath and _____________________.

4. What about Big Al Dagellio irritates the narrator?

5. What does the narrator imagine killing him as he tried to evade the tailgater?

Short Essay Questions

1. What prompts the narrator to recall his college days?

2. Why was forestcraft so boring to the narrator and his friends?

3. Describe the narrator's experience on cleanup detail at camp.

4. Why was the narrator underwhelmed by his summer camp experience?

5. How did the narrator's army experience separate him from the world?

6. What does the narrator think about the New Jersey traffic circles?

7. How does the narrator make comparisons between Skunk from summer camp and Umbaugh from college?

8. What is the narrator's favorite snack and how does it add a bright spot to a dull weekend?

9. How did the fat Chipmunk earn the name of Skunk?

10. What happened to Big Al during the contest and what does the narrator realize about Umbaugh's actions years later?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Shepherd was masterful at crafting literary descriptions for his readers. Choose a paragraph from the book which you find especially descriptive. How do you think Shepherd was able to craft it the way he did? What is so appealing to you about the passage? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

Explain how the narrator is always positioned as an "everyman" in each of the stories. Define what is meant by "everyman" and cite two examples in which the narrator assumes this role. Was he comfortable knowing he was neither brain nor brawn, but a curious observer? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

Humor takes on an almost human persona in this story. What is this literary technique called? Cite examples that support this position.

(see the answer keys)

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