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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. What did Vance's mother earn an associate's degree in at the local community college?

2. Vance opens his Introduction by telling the reader that he finds the existence of the book itself to be what?

3. From what post-graduate institution did Vance graduate?

4. What is the name of Lindsay's firstborn son?

5. How old was Vance when Uncle Teaberry died?

Short Essay Questions

1. What actions led to Vance's mother's arrest for abuse, according to the narrative in Chapter 5?

2. How does Vance define the term "hillbilly" in his Prologue?

3. What were the circumstances of Mamaw and Papaw's move to Ohio?

4. How did Vance's life change once he moved in to live solely with Mamaw during his teenage years?

5. What does "family loyalty" mean to Vance?

6. What difficulties does Vance describe that Mamaw and Papaw faced in their marriage in Chapter 3?

7. What event ultimately led to Vance living solely with Mamaw during his teenage years?

8. Where does Vance describe his "home" as being in Chapter 1?

9. What led to the economic decline of Middletown, Ohio?

10. How does Vance describe the differences between Ohio and Kentucky that Mamaw and Papaw encountered after they moved?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does Vance describe his relationship with his biological father in the memoir? When did his father abandon Vance? When did he come back into Vance's life? How did Vance's father influence him?

Essay Topic 2

Describe and discuss the history of the Rust Belt region in the U. S. How did the Rust Belt get its name? When did the Rust Belt experience a boom in economy and movement into this region? When did the region begin to decline and why?

Essay Topic 3

How did Vance feel about his mother's boyfriend Matt? Why did Vance refuse to initially move in with his mother and Matt? How did she respond to his refusal?

(see the answer keys)

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