View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What was the name of the corporate-owned ice cream parlor that moved into town?

2. What does the narrator especially appreciate about the catalog?

3. How is the Johnson Smith catalog distributed?

4. What was the narrator's mother cooking for dinner?

5. For the most part, Camper people are _________________.

Short Essay Questions

1. What are the typical bumper sticker messages found on campers as opposed to the stickers found on vans?

2. What prompts the narrator's memory about the great ice cream war?

3. What defense mechanisms did the kids in the back of the room develop in order to deflect the teachers' questions?

4. Who is Howard and why is he so depressed about the word "lemon"?

5. What prompts the narrator to think of the Johnson Smith catalog?

6. Describe how Mr. Leggett managed to drive The Happy Cow out of business.

7. What are the differences in driving styles between the Camper Crowd and van people?

8. What was the worst case scenario of a BNA?

9. What ironies does the narrator point out in the actuality of camper and van usage as opposed to the typical perceptions of the vehicles?

10. What has the NLGA done to try to counteract the negative perceptions of lemons?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

One of the most striking characteristics of Shepherd's writing was his complete honesty. Explain why this is necessary to complete a book of this nature. Would a reader be able to see through fabrications and falsehoods in a book like this? Describe why this format is the perfect for Shepherd's personality.

Essay Topic 2

Give some examples of humor in the book. Do you think Shepherd appreciated slapstick humor or wit of a more sophisticated nature? Or both? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

Describe the overall settings for the stories. What is important about each setting as it is revealed? What are the time periods of the stories? How important are the time periods to the attitudes and issues of the people?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,082 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample