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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. What does the author pretend he has won in "The Curly Kind"?

2. What is the Magic Star in "Santaland Diaries"?

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

4. Who are the "really bitter elves" according to the author in "Santaland Diaries"?

5. Which of the following is NOT a topic of discussion when the narrator works renovating an apartment?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe "the Walrus" in "Santaland Diaries".

2. Describe Kyle Dunbar in "Season's Greetings to Our Family and Friends".

3. Describe the experience of visiting the oldest Santa in "Santaland Diaries".

4. How does the author feel about adults who dress in costumes for their jobs in "Santaland Diaries"? How does he believe he will be different if he is hired as one of Santa's elves?

5. What are the two reasons the narrator gives for boycotting Malison's reading in "After Malison"?

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

7. Who is Jamboree in "Jamboree"? How does the narrator feel about him?

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

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

10. How does the narrator of "Diary of A Smoker" feel about smoking?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The titles of many of the stories in "Barrel Fever" have an ironic twist to them. Select three of the following stories and discuss how the title of each story reflects an irony presented in the story.

1) "Parade"

2) "Music for Lovers"

3) "We Get Along"

4) "Firestone"

5) "After Malison"

6) "Barrel Fever"

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

Popular culture plays a huge role in the stories in "Barrel Fever" Select three of the stories that feature popular culture and:

1) describe how the story uses popular culture,

2) discuss how the presence of popular culture in the story influences the reader's experience of the story, and

3) analyze why the author uses each example of popular culture in the story.

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

(see the answer keys)

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