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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 does Gay think was dangerous about the outcome of The Biggest Loser for the winner she focuses on?

2. What is one specific diet Gay mentions that her father gifts her to try?

3. According to Gay, statistics say that what percentage of Americans are obese?

4. What form of contact does Gay recoil from?

5. Which speaking event did Gay suffer a humiliation at?

Short Essay Questions

1. What significance did letting her best friend paint her thumbnail have for Gay?

2. What is Gay’s impression of Oprah and Oprah’s influence on the cultural conversation about weight loss?

3. How does Gay feel about exercise?

4. What type of eating disorder did Gay struggle with in addition to her compulsive overeating?

5. What medical reason does Gay say is responsible for contestants on shows like The Biggest Loser gaining most of their weight back?

6. What is the difference between Gay’s two wardrobes?

7. In the period of Gay’s life when she drops out of Yale, why does she feel free?

8. Why does Gay do extensive research on restaurants before she goes out to eat?

9. What does Gay think about the reality television show The Biggest Loser?

10. How does Gay feel when she looks at her friends’ social media posts about doing outdoorsy or athletic things?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Growing up in Haitian-American family, Gay felt there were certain expectations and roles she was required to fulfill. Write an essay analyzing how Gay’s cultural background affected her struggles with obesity and loneliness.

Essay Topic 2

There are many public places that produce anxiety for Gay, who explains “There are very few spaces where bodies like mine fit” (202). Write an essay giving specific examples from the text about some of these spaces and explain how Gay reacts to their challenges.

Essay Topic 3

Throughout the book, Gay describes how she becomes upset or panicked when she starts a new weight-loss regime and starts losing a significant amount of weight. Write an essay explaining why she reacts this way, detailing the conflicting feelings she describes about her obesity.

(see the answer keys)

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