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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 Khe Sahn in "Season's Greetings..."?

2. Why does the boy in the elevator refuse the Cheetos in "The Curly Kind"?

3. What genre is "Season's Greetings to Our Friends and Family"?

4. What do the siblings find in sealed boxes after their mother dies in "Barrel Fever"?

5. What does Khe Sahn wear to Thanksgiving dinner in "Season's Greetings..."?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. 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?

4. Describe Santa Santa in "Santaland Diaries".

5. What connection do the elves working at Santa Land have with "One Life to Live" in "Santaland Diaries"?

6. Describe Dolph's confrontation with Alicia Cunningham in "Barrel Fever".

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

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

9. How does the narrator deal with parents requesting to visit a Santa of a certain race in "Santaland Diaries"?

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

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

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 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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