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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. How does the narrator in "We Get Along" feel about his father's death?

2. What does Chad's father buy him for Christmas in "My Manuscript"?

3. Where does Glen park while shopping at Food Carnival in "Glen's Homophobia Newsletter"?

4. Who is responsible for getting the narrator his job at the service station in "Firestone"?

5. Who is Steve Dolger in "Glen's Homophobia Newsletter"?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the narrator's experience with the woman on the bus in "Firestone".

2. How is Don's success in "Don's Story" ironic?

3. What is Chad's relationship with Terry Glassman in "My Manuscript"?

4. Describe The Sportsman in "We Get Along".

5. What is the genre of "Don's Story"? How is it a "spoof" on an actual piece in this genre?

6. In "Glen's Homophobia Newsletter", why is Drew having difficulty in his psychology class? What does Glen offer to do to help Drew?

7. Describe the narrator of "The Last You'll Hear From Me".

8. Describe the narrator of "Parade"'s relationship with Bruce Springsteen (from his perspective).

9. What perplexes Carlton about the narrator's unwillingness to correct his vision loss in "Firestone"?

10. Contrast the story Taylor tells about his child with the actual facts about his child in "Firestone".

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Two of Sedaris' stories in "Barrel Fever" ("The Last You'll Hear From Me" and "Don's Story") are written as speeches. In your essay,

1) discuss how speeches are typically used by people,

2) discuss how Sedaris uses the genre of speech in each of these stories, and

3) analyze the statement the author is trying to make about the genre of speech.

Be sure to use evidence from the stories to support your ideas.

Essay Topic 2

Through the stories in "Barrel Fever", David Sedaris demonstrates what he believes humor is. Drawing on evidence from the stories:

1) define "humor" from Sedaris' point of view, and

2) discuss how he shows his readers what he believes is funny through his stories.

Be sure to use evidence from the stories to support your ideas.

Essay Topic 3

The final four pieces in "Barrel Fever" are listed as "essays". In your essay,

1) describe the qualities that an essay typically has,

2) discuss how two of these pieces fit the genre of essay, and

3) discuss how two of these pieces present a unique take on the genre of essay.

Be sure to use evidence from the stories to support your ideas.

(see the answer keys)

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