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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. Why does the narrator of "After Malison" lose her excitement about Malison's reading?

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

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

4. Why does the narrator of "Diary of a Smoker" schedule a doctor's appointment?

5. Which of the following words/phrases is NOT part of Khe Sahn's vocabulary according to Jocelyn in "Season's Greetings..."?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Describe Santa Santa in "Santaland Diaries".

3. Who is Trudy Chase in "Barrel Fever"? How does the narrator react to a phone call from Trudy?

4. What story does the narrator of "Giantess" think he and Lili should tell the man whose plate they broke?

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

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

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

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

9. 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?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Two of Sedaris' stories in "Barrel Fever" ("Glen's Homophobia Newsletter" and "Season's Greetings to our Family and Friends") are written as letters. In your essay,

1) discuss how letters are typically used by people,

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

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

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

In many of the stories in "Barrel Fever", Sedaris uses hyperbole (exaggeration) to make points. Select 3 of the stories in which the author uses hyperbole and:

1) describe the ways in which hyperbole is used in the stories,

2) compare and contrast the use of hyperbole in each story, and

3) discuss the impact of hyperbole on the reader's experience of the stories.

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

(see the answer keys)

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