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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 do the police think Bill is involved in selling?

2. Who takes Bill away from the bar and onto the streets?

3. Who do the police threaten to incarcerate?

4. What does Bill search madly for when he gets home?

5. Of what does Bill complain that his apartment smells?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the drug trade in Mexico.

2. Of what does Appendix 3 consist?

3. Why does Bill decide to flee to Mexico?

4. What information does Gains bring about Bill's old acquaintances?

5. How does the government help Bill and Old Ike continue their habits?

6. What does Bill do after he is released from prison?

7. How is drink affecting Bill in a bad way in Segment 10?

8. In what way do the police treat Bill badly?

9. Of what does this final section of the novel consist?

10. Describe Bill's time with the young drug users.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Examine Burroughs' writing style. How would you describe Burroughs' prose style? What kind of vocabulary does he use? Does he use any specific writing techniques? What meaning does Burroughs' style give to the story?

Essay Topic 2

Why is it important that drug addiction is addressed by someone who has experienced it? Do you think Burroughs' views have ever seriously been addressed in America?

Essay Topic 3

In the novel, Burroughs has many homosexual encounters.

1) How was homosexuality viewed in the 1930's?

2) How does Burroughs' sexual orientation affect his life? Does it have any bearing on his drug addiction?

(see the answer keys)

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