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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Why does Wallace see the baton twirling competition as dangerous?
(a) Because they twirl very fast.
(b) Because the batons are on fire.
(c) Because they throw the batons into the crowd.
(d) Because they twirl blindfolded.

2. As a child, what did Wallace believe the purpose of carnivals was?
(a) To praise God.
(b) To entertain him.
(c) To inspire community.
(d) To make money.

3. At Wallace's games, how do people respond to a tornado warning?
(a) They get in a ditch.
(b) They scatter.
(c) They ignore it.
(d) They gather together.

4. Two women who mistake Wallace for working for Harper's Bazaar compliment him on his magazine's _________.
(a) Recipes.
(b) Design.
(c) Editing.
(d) Advice.

5. According to Wallace, commercials make people watch more television because they want to understand the _______.
(a) Concept.
(b) Product.
(c) World.
(d) In-joke.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why does Wallace admire Lynch?

2. After discussing Hix's argument, what is Wallace's final opinion on the argument over "authors"?

3. Wallace describes his tennis career as ______ successful.

4. The clogger competition leaves Wallace with a sense of a specific ______.

5. What does Wallace believe about the dialogue in six hours worth of television?

Short Essay Questions

1. Does Wallace's visit to the stockyard barns affect Wallace at all? Why or why not?

2. As an adult, what does Wallace see as the purpose of carnivals?

3. How was Wallace able to go to the Desert Competition of the fair?

4. Was Wallace a "boring" tennis player? How so?

5. How does Wallace suggest a writer rebel against the "new ironic orthodoxy"?

6. According to Wallace, why does television seem real?

7. Does the plot of "Lost Highway" make sense? Is it supposed to make sense?

8. Why does Wallace believe cloggers have more fun than people at a rock concert?

9. How does Wallace feel about the setting for "Lost Highway"? Why does he feel this way?

10. According to Wallace, what tendencies does television appeal to? Who is television's target?

(see the answer keys)

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