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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 Bill say about the way people of the world eat?

2. In "Dying Accents," what is the name of the man who does carpentry around the Bryson house?

3. What does Bryson call the expression his wife wears when she is ready for serious gardening?

4. According to Bill, what product do Americans regard much differently than the British?

5. Bryson nostalgically describes the movie theater where he grew up. Where is his home town?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. 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?

3. In "The Inefficiency Report," Bryson says "Our subject today is large-scale incompetence in my native land." Give some examples of what he believes are areas of incompetence in 1990s America.

4. "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?

5. 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.

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

7. 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?

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

9. In "The Numbers Game," Bryson expresses his amazement at the large numbers that are quoted by American government agencies. What does he say about the use of such large numbers?

10. In "The War on Drugs," what examples does Bryson give to prove his belief about American drug laws being unfair?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Define what is meant by "style" in writing. Discuss what kind of style is used in traditional nonfiction, novels, and creative nonfiction. Which style was used in the writing of "I'm a Stranger Here Myself?" Support your answer with four examples.

Essay Topic 3

At the beginning of the memoir, in the Introduction and Anecdote 1 "Coming Home," Bill Bryson explains how he came to write the anecdotes that comprise "I'm a Stranger Here Myself" and the process by which he relocated his family in the United States. Define the component of the literary element of plot known as "exposition." What purpose does it serve in writing? Give four examples of Bryson's use of exposition in the Introduction and in Anecdote 1 that enhance the memoir.

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