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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. Why does Bill prefer the post offices in the U.S. to the ones in Britain?

2. According to Bryson in "Why No One Walks," how far does the average American walk in a day?

3. What does Bryson find amazing about the geography of the United States?

4. In the twenty years since Bryson left the United States, by how much have car numbers, roads, and mileage increased?

5. What does Bryson say that all New Englanders do?

Short Essay Questions

1. 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?

2. 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.

3. What does Bryson say about regional accents in America in the 1990s in "Dying Accents"?

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

5. In "Coming Home" Bryson says he is "gamely assessing" the concept of not being able to go home again. What circumstances took him away from the United States in the 1970s? How did he spend the following two decades in England? What is his reaction on returning to the United States in 1996?

6. 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?

7. In "How to Have Fun at Home,"which household conveniences are high on Bill's approval list? Why?

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

10. How does Bryson feel about gardening? What are his feelings concerning gardening with his mate in "Gardening With My Wife"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What role does the Bryson family play in the memoir "I'm a Stranger Here Myself"? Are they as important to the narrative as the author and the environment? Give four examples where the other members of the family are central to the story-telling. Give four examples where the narrative is focused only on Bill and the community/the United States.

Essay Topic 2

An anecdote can be defined as an interesting or humorous telling of an incident. It is often used in writing. As a memoir, "I'm a Stranger Here Myself" is structured as a collection of anecdotes in essay format. The author has chosen a number of incidents relating to his return to the United States. He weaves them together into a coherent whole that results in a memoir. Define an anecdote. What characteristics does it have? How does Bryson structure his anecdotes? Citing one of his anecdotes from "I'm a Stranger Here Myself," show how he structures the beginning, middle, and ending of his anecdotes.

Essay Topic 3

What is "creative license?" When is it commonly used? When should it not be used? In what instances is it permissible to use in creative nonfiction? Give examples. Cite three examples from "I'm a Stranger Here Myself" where you believe creative license was used.

(see the answer keys)

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