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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. The narrator finds that Van people and Camper people are all ________________.

2. The archaeologists will probably think that TV commercials are some form of ______________.

3. The narrator compares Van Culture with the ___________________.

4. What was the name of the General Motors magazine for which the narrator wrote an article?

5. What kind of car did the narrator's family have?

Short Essay Questions

1. What human foibles does the Johnson Smith catalog prey on and why does the narrator appreciate it?

2. Why does the narrator focus on TV commercials as a true reflection of American society?

3. Define a BNA and cite some supporting examples.

4. What scenario does the narrator imagine in which archaeologists discover television advertising and what are their perceptions of it?

5. How does the narrator's experience in the Lincoln Tunnel mirror his demeanor during his school years?

6. Why do people find items such as those found in the Johnson Smith catalog to be humorous?

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

8. How does the narrator recall growing up in his family in small-town Indiana?

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

10. With what does the narrator credit the Johnson Smith catalog for being and how will it stand up as an American culture artifact?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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

Essay Topic 2

Shepherd was a master at dramatic devices. Choose an example of symbolism, metaphors, and irony. Briefly describe them and identify the technique which they embody.

Essay Topic 3

Explain some of the examples of regionalism found in the book. Can regionalism include more than accents and food? What else encompasses the culture and personality of a region? What are the major differences Shepherd found as he traveled from place to place?

(see the answer keys)

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