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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. Bryson likes his privacy. Where does he especially find there is a lack of privacy in America?

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

3. Why does Bill feel going to a restaurant is a discouraging experience?

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

5. What does Bill say is a big improvement in America concerning business phone numbers?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. 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?

4. "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?

5. 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?

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

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

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

9. 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.

10. 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?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why do you think Bill Bryson included Essay 69, "An Address to the Graduating Glass of Kimball Union Academy"? What do you think his intent was? Discuss three points of advice that he included in his speech.

Essay Topic 2

"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?

Essay Topic 3

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.

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