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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. When did Vance graduate from Ohio State University?

2. What is the story of Brian's mother in the Conclusion?

3. Who is the Indiana Governor that Vance describes meeting briefly and as being the public figure he most admired in Chapter 13?

4. Where did Papaw install a secret phone line for Vance and his sister so that they could call Mamaw and Papaw when they needed to?

5. Where did Vance have lunch with his sister Lindsay on the day of his orientation at Ohio State?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Vance describe the Christmas celebrations within Usha and Bonnie's families in childhood in the Conclusion?

2. Why was golf the sport that Vance's grandmother encouraged him to learn?

3. What dream does describe in the Conclusion?

4. What does "learned helplessness" mean and how does Vance address it in Hillbilly Elegy?

5. What paradox does Vance point out regarding the tuition for Yale Law School in Chapter 12?

6. How often did Vance's family write to him while he was in boot camp? What did they write about?

7. What problems with the foster care system in the U.S. are discussed by Vance in Chapter 15?

8. How was the Marine Corps beneficial to Vance's later success in life?

9. What led to Vance's decision to join the Marine Corps?

10. What relationship difficulties does Vance discuss in Chapter 14?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does Vance describe the cultural differences that Mamaw and Papaw experienced when they moved from Kentucky to Ohio? How did they cope with these differences? How did Vance perceive the differences between these settings?

Essay Topic 2

What was Mamaw's relationship with organized religion? How did this influence Vance? Who else in Vance's life had influence over his religious explorations and beliefs?

Essay Topic 3

Describe the region known as Appalachia and its residents and culture. How large is this region? What is the economy of the region like? How does Vance describe the "hillbillies" of this region?

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