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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 Mrs. Bryson tell her husband about Maggie that cheers him up?

2. According to Bryson, what makes up for the long New England winters?

3. Bryson and his wife see their son off to a university. Where is the university?

4. What does Bryson say about computer energy consumption at the beginning of "The Waste Generation"?

5. In regards to his son's university education, what is Bryson so shocked about?

Short Essay Questions

1. Bryson looks at obesity in "The Fat of the Land." Name three statistics he mentions in relation to obesity.

2. In "On Losing a Son," what does Bryson say his main activities are as a father sending his son off to college?

3. What does Bryson tell the reader about drive-in movies in "At the Drive-In"?

4. "Highway Diversions" is Bryson's look at highway travel, which he says is very dull. How does he compare modern highway travel to the highway travel of his youth?

5. In "In Praise of Diners," Bryson talks about an old American institution that has almost disappeared, the diner restaurant. List at least three things he tells the readers about diners.

6. "The Myteries of Christmas" compares American Christmases and English Christmases. How does Bryson compare the two holidays?

7. In "The Wasteland," what is Bryson criticizing? Name three points of his criticism.

8. In "Lost in Cyberland," what kind of adventures does Bryson have with technology in America?

9. "Your Tax Form Explained", what does Bryson satirize? Give three examples of how he does this.

10. In "So Sue Me," what does Bryson say about American lawyers?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 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

Define "the writer's purpose" and give four examples of different genres of writing. Explain the writer's purpose for each one. Apply the definition to "I'm a Stranger Here Myself" and discuss Bill Bryson's purpose in writing the memoir. If you think he has succeeded, give examples to back up your assertion.

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