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

2. Why does Melinda begin crying in "Glen's Homophobia Newsletter"?

3. What type of transplant is Carlton waiting for in "Firestone"?

4. Where did Don of "Don's Story" live before moving to Los Angeles?

5. In "Don's Story", who plays Don's mother in the movie version of his life?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. Contrast the narrator in "Firestone" with his co-workers (Carlton and Taylor).

4. What insults does the narrator of "The Last You'll Hear From Me" hurl at Annette and Randy?

5. Describe Dawn's relationship with Rusty in "Music for Lovers".

6. Why does Drew react negatively after Glen shares his dreams with him in "Glen's Homophobia Newsletter"?

7. What does Glen dream about in "Glen's Homophobia Newsletter"? What does he tell Drew he dreamed about? Why?

8. What is the tone of the story "Parade"? How does the author create this tone?

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

10. How does Chad conduct research for his book in "My Manuscript"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Several of the stories in this collection offer a commentary on relationships. Select three of the stories in which this commentary is developed and:

1) explain what the stories say about relationships,

2) demonstrate how the author develops this commentary in the story, and

3) respond to the author's commentary: Do you agree or disagree with him? Why?

Be sure to use specific examples from the stories to support your ideas.

Essay Topic 2

Imagine if one of the stories in this collection was missing from it. Choose one of the stories and "remove" it from the collection. Write an essay:

1) explaining the role that the story plays in the collection,

2) describing how the novel would be different without the story, and

3) comment on the quality of the book without the story: Would it be better or worse? Why?

Be sure to use specific examples from the stories to support your ideas.

Essay Topic 3

In "Barrel Fever", David Sedaris offers a variety of wacky minor characters for the reader to enjoy. Select two of the following characters and compare and contrast them in an essay:

1) Taylor in "Firestone"

2) Aunt Margery in "We Get Along"

3) Marty in "Jamboree"

4) Gill in "Barrel Fever"

(see the answer keys)

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