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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. In Chapter 6, what caveat does Augusten's therapy group make regarding its approval of Hayden staying with Augusten?

2. What is Kavi addicted to in addition to cocaine?

3. In his fantasy of what the Institute will look like, what clinical allowance does Augusten make in Chapter 3?

4. How old is Augusten at the beginning of DRY?

5. With whom did Augusten's mother leave him at age thirteen?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are the rules governing group?

2. How does Augusten meet Foster in Chapter 5?

3. How does Augusten begin to realize that he drinks more than other people in Chapter 3?

4. What is Nan's story?

5. Why does Augusten like the Cedar Tavern?

6. How are Pighead and Augusten unable to connect romantically?

7. How does Augusten attempt to mask his drinking at the beginning of Chapter 2?

8. How does Augusten become acclimated to Proud Institute in Chapter 3?

9. How do Hayden and Augusten find each other again in Chapter 6?

10. How does Augusten dispose of his one full bottle of Dewar's in Chapter 5?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Augusten Burroughs' perception of self changes several times over the course of his memoir Dry. This is a reflection of the major life changes he goes through. Write an essay about the three changes in self-perception Augusten has over the course of the novel:

Part 1) How does Augusten see himself in the days leading up to his intervention? Discuss why he believes he is fooling people about the extent of his drinking. How does he slowly come to terms with the fact that he is not a charming lush? What does he realize about his habits?

Part 2) What changes in Augusten's life make sobriety one of several concerns in his life rather than the central concern? Discuss the events that make him suddenly not care if he remains sober and healthy? How does he change his habits as a result of this?

Part 3) What change occurs in Augusten's self-regard that suddenly makes him want to become sober again? How is self-preservation play a major role in this shift? What is Augusten's sense of self at the end of the novel?

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay charting the progression of Augusten's relapse in Dry. What components of his life after Proud Institute make the possibility of relapse more likely? How does Augusten toy with the idea of taking a drink several times before actually doing it? What is the final straw? Discuss how Augusten's eventual relapse creates a far more volatile habit of consumption and accelerates his journey to bottom.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay about the character of Foster and his role in the novel. Describe Foster, his life, and how he appears when he first enters Augusten's orbit. Is there ever a point at which Foster is in control of his addiction? How does he become as addicting to the protagonist as any chemical? What is Foster's contribution to Augusten's final collapse into relapse?

(see the answer keys)

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