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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. How does the author's bedroom differ from the rest of his childhood home in "The Curly Kind"?
(a) It is filled with moving boxes.
(b) It is extremely clean.
(c) It is filthy.
(d) It has no furniture in it.

2. What does Sedaris think every male reader of "Giantess" longs for?
(a) Size
(b) A woman
(c) Infancy
(d) Punishment

3. What did the narrator's sister, Vicki aspire to be when she was younger? ("Jamboree")
(a) A dancer
(b) A record producer
(c) A singer
(d) A designer

4. What color does the narrator paint the baby's nursery in "Jamboree"?
(a) Pink
(b) Orange
(c) Blue
(d) Yellow

5. Why does the narrator drop out of school in "Jamboree"?
(a) To help his sister raise her son.
(b) To work in his brother-in-law's business.
(c) He wants to pursue a career in the music industry.
(d) He is failing all of his classes.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Malison name each of the characters in his second novel in "After Malison"?

2. What job did Sedaris hope to get on "One Life to Live" in "Santaland Diaries"?

3. What excuse does Malison give to Bethany for not going out for a drink with her in "After Malison"?

4. How does Malison react when he discovers the master's writing class is reading O'Flannery in "After Malison"?

5. What reason does the narrator of "After Malison" give for smoking in the hotel lobby?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the narrator of "Giantess" expect his fellow workers to do as they are waiting in the apartment of an extremely rich client? What do they actually do?

2. What theme joins the four scenarios in "The Curly Kind"?

3. Describe the narrator's elf costume in "Santaland Diaries".

4. What does the narrator do to Marty's motorcycle in "Jamboree"? Who does Marty believe is responsible for the damages?

5. Describe Khe Sahn's arrival at the Dunbar home in "Season's Greetings to Our Friends and Family".

6. Describe Marty Jr.'s appearance in "Jamboree".

7. What does the narrator's mother give him before she dies in "Barrel Fever"? Why does she give him this gift?

8. How does the narrator of "Barrel Fever" feel about the word "nice"? Why does he feel this way?

9. Which elf duty is the narrator's least favorite in "Santaland Diaries"? Why does he feel this way?

10. Why is Jocelyn Dunbar suspected of murdering Don and framing Khe Sahn in "Season's Greetings..."?

(see the answer keys)

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