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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 is one way Bryson says New Hampshire residents might die that would not happen in Britain?

2. In "The War on Drugs," what is wrong, according to Bryson, about the penalties for drug possession?

3. According to Bryson, what is lacking in his New Hampshire town?

4. When Bill phones the computer hotline to ask for help, what information do they ask him for first?

5. In "The Risk Factor," what does Bryson say an American is twice as likely to do as a British person?

Short Essay Questions

1. "The Cupholder Revolution" details the proliferation of cupholders. What does Bryson have to say about them?

2. How does Bryson compare late television in the U.S. to late time television in Britain in his "Drug Culture"? What does he say about the American approach to over-the-counter medicine from watching commercials for these products?

3. In "On the Hotline," how does dental floss become the topic of this essay? What is the outcome of Bryson's reading the fine print on his floss packaging?

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

5. In "Design Flaws" Bryson compares running shoes and his computer keyboard. What does he say about each one?

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. Bryson has a nostalgic look at motels in "Room Service." How does he compare and contrast older motels with those of the mid 1990's?

8. What comparison does Bryson make between American baseball and English cricket in "Take Me Out to the Ballpark"?

9. Bryson finds the lack of privacy in America to be a problem. List three examples of this problem that he cites in "Snoopers at Work."

10. In "The Risk Factor," how does Bryson explain that the average American is twice as likely to die accidentally as the average Briton?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Define "creative nonfiction" and explain how it applies to "I'm a Stranger Here Myself." Explain how the book differs from traditional nonfiction with supporting arguments. Explain how it differs from fiction with supporting arguments.

Essay Topic 2

Conflict is a common element of writing, in both fiction and nonfiction. Why is conflict so often used in narratives? How can it help add interest to a narrative? Give four examples where conflict in "I'm a Stranger Here Myself" occurs and how it helps explain the dynamics of Bill's return and his reactions to the United States.

Essay Topic 3

What is satire? What is the point of satire and how should it be used? Give three examples of satirical writing that Bryson includes in his book.

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