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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. As Bryson was writing, which American President was suing the government for loss of earnings?

2. What do New Englanders call the tourists who come to New England in the fall?

3. In "On Losing a Son," why does Bryson decide to play baseball with his youngest child?

4. Why was Bryson unhappy about a flight he and his family took from Minneapolis?

5. According to Bryson, what does the Travel Industry Association of America say about shopping?

Short Essay Questions

1. In "A Day at the Seaside," what does Mrs. Bryson suggest the family do? How does Bill react to this?

2. In "Deck the Halls," Bryson tells his readers that he is not looking forward to Christmas decorating. Why is this?

3. 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.

4. Find three examples from "The Great Indoors" that Bryson cites as reasons he thinks Americans spend too much time indoors.

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

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

7. "The Best American Holiday," Bryson explains why he loves Thanksgiving so much. List three things that he enthuses about the holiday.

8. In "Life's Mysteries," Bryson lists a very large number of things that he doesn't understand. What are four of these things?

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

10. Bryson titled "The Waste Generation". Give three examples of why he thinks the generation of Americans in the 1990s is a wasteful one.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

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.

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