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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 Bombeck attempt to recite in "Why Can't Our Average Little Family Get Their Own TV series?" that ended up not being funny?

2. How did Bombeck feel about the magazine article in "Who Killed Apple Pie?"

3. Why were operations discouraged in "Primer for the Imaginative Children?"

4. According to Bombeck's list of guidelines that determine whether a child should call their parent at work, the amount of what substance ought to be evaluated to constitute an emergency?

5. In "Who Killed Apple Pie?," what does Bombeck discuss as being no longer fulfilling for women?

Short Essay Questions

1. In "Who Killed Apple Pie?", what does Bombeck say started to happen to housewives and what was the result?

2. According to "If You Thought the Wedding Was Bad," what were some of the differences between men and women that should be discussed prior to the wedding?

3. How did Bombeck achieve lower costs with her butcher?

4. Describe Bombeck's humor.

5. What annoyances does Bombeck describe in "If You Thought the Wedding Was Bad?"

6. According to Bombeck, what was the result of the coffee boycott in 1942?

7. What was the purpose of the article about the female architect and how did it make Bombeck feel as a result?

8. What does Bombeck hypothesize about the reasons so many marriages fail?

9. What did Bombeck claim about remembering children's names in "Haven't I Always Loved Whatshisname Best?"

10. With what issue did Bombeck struggle in "The Varicose Open" and why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is important to note about Bombeck's portrayal of different people, including her family, in her essays ? Discuss how her handling of these people reveal not only her love and respect, but her views on society. Develop a clear thesis statement and cite specific examples from the text to support your answers.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss Bombeck's relationship with her readers in the following format:

Part 1) Honesty and candor in writing.

Part 2) Discussion of universal truths amongst parents.

Part 3) Treating others with complete respect.

Part 4) Characterizing herself as confused.

Part 5) Practicing and discussing issues of morality and acceptance.

Cite specific examples from the text to support your answers.

Essay Topic 3

Using the themes of survival and worry (as discussed in "White Socks in a Pantyhose World), discuss Bombeck's outlook on life and society. Consider how she utilized these themes in her writing and how she handled her feelings of hysteria when feeling out-of-place in the world. Focus as well on the role of her children when considering the latter. Cite specific examples from the text to support your answers.

(see the answer keys)

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