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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. Where did Bryson go on the outing with his friend and his family?

2. Who led a movement in trying to identify the element in #95?

3. What was the area set apart in the grocery where kids could read while their parents shopped?

4. For what characteristic was Bryson's father known?

5. What movie did Bryson's sister decide they needed to see?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did Bryson get some insight into sex?

2. What other accessories did Bryson need to become the Thunderbolt Kid?

3. What was Bryson's mother's main personality quirk?

4. Who was Joseph R. McCarthy and what was his role in the fear of Communism that spread across America?

5. Who was The Thunderbolt Kid?

6. How did the Thunderbolt Kid get his powers and what were the circumstances of the Thunderbolt Kid getting his costume?

7. What was the ritual Bryson had with his mother every Friday evening?

8. What businesses came about as the result of more cars in America?

9. What were the results of the hydrogen bombs dropped by the United States in 1952 and 1954?

10. What was Bryson's notion of how slowly time passed for kids?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Humor takes on an almost human persona in this story. What is this literary technique called? Cite examples that support this position.

Essay Topic 2

Create a "character" sketch of the city of Des Moines. What personality shines through for you for this city? Did Bryson make you want to learn more and perhaps visit one day? What would you most like to see? What is the one fact or interesting feature that you can recall about Des Moines? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss Bryson's writing style. How is he different from other writers of his time? What are some of his characteristic writing techniques? Identify some examples of his classic style in this book.

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