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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 14, Augusten gets drunk and reads what?

2. What does Foster ostensibly invite Augusten over to his apartment for in Chapter 7?

3. In Chapter 11, what does Augusten admit he understands to Wendy?

4. Augusten's counselors recommend he not start a relationship for how long?

5. What happens when Augusten confronts Foster at the end of Chapter 8?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Augusten's relationship with Foster a problem from the beginning?

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

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

4. Why does Augusten almost relapse at the end of Chapter 9?

5. Why does the beer account prove more difficult than Augusten expected?

6. What kind of peace do Pighead and Augusten reach in Chapter 8?

7. How does Augusten's story end?

8. Describe the commercial shoot in Chapter 10.

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

10. In what state is Augusten on the day of Pighead's wake in Chapter 13?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay on the topic of alienation from self in Dry. How has alcoholism rendered Augusten Burroughs unable to process his own emotional sphere? What steps does he take toward translating his feelings into self-awareness after rehab? Discuss how events involving work, Pighead, and Foster confound him, in part, because of his lack of self-awareness.

Essay Topic 2

Dry presents a series of portraits of addiction, not only that of the protagonist. In a three-part essay, discuss three other characters whose addictions are dealt with in detail in the narrative. What is the nature of each character's addiction? How does the abuse destroy his life in some regard? What kind of success does this person find in rehab and therapy?

Part 1) Brian (Dr. Valium)

Part 2) Hayden

Part 3) Foster

Essay Topic 3

Augusten Burroughs' tenuous sobriety is tested by a series of hardships. From the moment he returns home, he must make choices about what he must change in his life. Write an essay about three parts of Augusten's life that prove particularly rife for temptation and how he deals with them.

Part 1) Discuss how Augusten's job in advertising is the reason he goes to rehab and how it continues to be a challenge for him after he returns. What accounts prove particularly tough for Augusten? What strange occurrences lead him to believe someone is trying to sabotage him? How does he deal with this?

Part 2) Why does Augusten have such difficulty letting Pighead into his life? Discuss what about Pighead makes him a risky acquaintance? What kind of support does Pighead give Augusten? What danger does he bring to the recovering addict?

Part 3) How is Augusten's relationship with Foster a complete violation of the rules of his recovery? What mutual danger do they bring to each other's life? Discuss how Foster's weakness hurts Augusten. What terrible kindness does he provide the protagonist after a friend's death?

(see the answer keys)

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