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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. In Chapter 27, Fulghum speaks of a grumpy-looking man who has come down with a full-blown case of what?

2. What is Fulghum's neighbor's philosophy of life in Chapter 22?

3. The man who has a car with a dead battery says he took another class the same time as his auto mechanics class. What class does he say he took at the same time as his mechanics class?

4. What city did the man test the theory that no one can be trusted in Chapter 16?

5. In Chapter 29, Fulghum mentions his neighbors across the street who really have it together. What does he say the couple eats or "scarfs"?

Short Essay Questions

1. What kind of fantasy does Fulghum speak about in Chapter 20, and what does it involve?

2. What does the author do in Chapter 28 when his cuckoo clock is not working properly, and what happens to the clock?

3. What happened in Chapter 24 when Fulghum tries to organize a game of giants, wizards, and dwarfs?

4. In Chapter 28, why does Robert Fulghum buy a cuckoo clock?

5. Who is Donnie in Chapter 30, and why does he knock on Fulghum's door?

6. In Chapter 33, what does Fulghum say is his first clue that Elias Schwartz is the new Haiho Lama?

7. In Chapter 36, what are some of the deadly mixtures that Fulghum and his newfound stranded friend discuss?

8. How does Fulghum explain how the people of imagination mentioned in Chapter 37 stand on one another's shoulders?

9. In Chapter 39, Fulghum talks about a list of mysteries that he keeps that's getting longer and longer as he gets older. What are two of these mysteries that he lists in the book?

10. In Chapter 20, what kind of people does Fulghum say he lives in awe of?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

This book is a collection of some of Robert Fulghum's essays and stories as told from his perspective. How do you think Fulghum's perspective on some of these stories affected the way it was told or even affected the outcome of the story? How would some of the stories be different if they were told through another person's perspective? Explain your answers, and use evidence from the book to support those answers.

Essay Topic 2

Even though Fulghum jumps from story to story and doesn't really go in any type of chronological order, does the book still seem to flow when you read it? Why or why not? After reading only short stories about so many different times, places, and individuals, was there enough to interest you as a reader and keep you wanting more as you read the book? If so, how does Fulghum create this in his writing? If not, why were you not interested or involved with the book and people? Why do you think Robert Fulghum wrote the book the way he did with short stories and short chapters? Explain your reasoning.

Essay Topic 3

In Chapter 51, Fulghum discusses Mother Teresa. Why do you think the author waits until the end of the book to tell his story about Mother Teresa? Does her story help conclude Fulghum's book in any way? Why do you think Fulghum says that Mother Teresa has "profoundly disturbed my peace of mind for a long time"? Fulghum even goes as far as to say that she drives him crazy. Why do you think he sets up her story in this manner? Use examples from the book to support your answers.

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