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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 disappeared in the north woods of New Hampshire in 1996 and was never found?

2. What does Bill say about the barber in his new hometown?

3. In "Wide-Open Spaces," according to Bryson, who was an idiot?

4. What mistake did Bill make that made him realize that he, along with many others, needs product guidance?

5. How does Bryson begin "Tales of the North Woods?"

Short Essay Questions

1. "Friendly People" begins with Mrs. Bryson telling Bill that all he did in his columns was make negative comments about the United States. He goes on to say there are a lot of things he likes about America. What are some of those things?

2. Bryson relates how his attitude to the informality and familiarity in American life seemed an irritant when he returned to the United States. For Essay 19, "Number Please," relate some of the ways he has encountered this informality in America.

3. Bryson calls America "the ultimate shopping paradise" in "Consuming Pleasures." How does he support this statement?

4. In "A Visit to the Barbershop," how does Bryson convey that adjusting to the small town barbershop is difficult?

5. Why does Bryson hate calling the computer helpline, as he outlines in "Help!"? How does he react to hotlines in general?

6. What does Bryson, who admits he "is no stranger to sloth," say about the walking habits of Americans in Essay 26, "Why No One Walks"?

7. Why does Bryson find going to a restaurant in the United States so difficult, as expressed in "What's Cooking"? How does he address the issue of the many varieties of food out there?

8. In "Rule Number 1: Follow All Rules,"what does Bryson use as an example of a rule that must be followed in America? How does he compare the devotion to order in the U.S. and Britain?

9. "Tales of the North Woods" tells the reader something about the wilder side of New Hampshire, Bryson's new home state. What information does he share with the reader about the wilderness of New Hampshire?

10. Summarize Bryson's trip to the supermarket in "Junk-Food Heaven." Include why he went shopping in the first place, what he saw at the store, and what was the ultimate outcome of that trip.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

To make memoir writing authentic, the author's personal presence must exist. Give five examples where Bill Bryson's personal presence is apparent. Choose two of the examples, and explain why you think he chose to make it so.

Essay Topic 2

Humor is an element of memoir writing that is often employed by authors. Why is it used? How can it enhance a memoir? What two types of humor does Bryson use in "I'm a Stranger Here Myself"? Give four examples of Bill Bryson's use of humor where you feel the pace and the theme of "I'm a Stranger Here Myself" has been enhanced by its use.

Essay Topic 3

"I'm a Stranger Here Myself" is a first person narrative, told from Bill Bryson's point-of-view. Briefly explain how the first person narrative is effective and how it is limited. Give four specific examples that show how the memoir is effectively told from Bill Bryson's point of view. How is our vicarious experience enhanced by Bryson's choice of first person?

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