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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. Which of the following is not a positive event that happens midway through Chapter 9?

2. In Chapter 7, what does Augusten realize about his attraction to Foster?

3. In Chapter 11, Foster is staying with Augusten until when?

4. What offer does Augusten make to the ailing Pighead in the beginning of Chapter 7?

5. What reminder of Kyle is in Foster's apartment in Chapter 7?

Short Essay Questions

1. What bad news does Augusten get at the end of Chapter 10?

2. What is Augusten's attitude toward his mother?

3. Why is dinner with the Nazi in Chapter 10 nearly unbearable for Augusten?

4. To whom does Augusten confide about Foster in Chapter 9?

5. How does Augusten's story end?

6. What miscommunication happens with the minibar in Chapter 10?

7. By Chapter 12, how has Augusten and Pighead's relationship changed?

8. How does Pighead look when Augusten sees him in Chapter 11?

9. What is the fallout from Augusten's revelation about Foster at the end of Chapter 8?

10. Describe the night that Augusten relapses.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Dry, Augusten Burroughs presents the character of Hayden as a mirror to himself. Write an essay about the concurrent trajectory of Hayden's sobriety. What essential characteristics do Hayden and Augusten have in common? What is similar about both of their first days at Proud Institute? How do they support each other in their first months of sobriety, and how do their relapses mirror each other?

Essay Topic 2

At the beginning of the novel, Augusten Burroughs is clearly an advertising prodigy. Write an essay in which you discuss how Augusten made his way in New York's advertising world. How old was he when he was hired, and what kind of early success did he have? Discuss how this image of a young prodigy was instrumental in his developing an unchecked addiction? How was someone like Greer an enabler in this respect?

Essay Topic 3

After leaving the Proud Institute, Augusten discovers that the road to lifelong sobriety involves lifelong participation. He expects that the hard work is finished after his first thirty days, but the counselor presents a detailed portrait of the therapy that awaits him. Write an essay about the continued work he must do, and how he fairs with it.

Part 1) Augusten's counselor tells him that he should attend a group therapy twice weekly in addition to two weekly one-on-ones with a therapist. What rules are associated with these sessions? How do these rules complicate Augusten's life? What guidance does Wendy give him, and does he follow it?

Part 2) How often does Augusten think a person is supposed to go to AA after leaving rehab, and how often is recommended to him by his counselor in Proud? In what ways does AA turn out to be different from the image he had of it when he was drinking? Why does he stop attending meetings?

Part 3) Discuss why a recovering addict is encouraged not to make any major life changes for one year after becoming sober. What does this include? How do Augusten's failures provide an illustration as to why this is the case? What changes does he make, and how do they catalyze his relapse?

(see the answer keys)

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