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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 was Bryson's parents' response to the Cuban Missile Crisis?

2. What kind of car did Bryson's father buy?

3. What quality hindered Bryson in his work?

4. What was the name of the dog that harassed Bryson?

5. Bryson wrote about which relatives in Chapter 10?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happened to The Thunderbolt Kid's sacred jersey?

2. What was Bryson's opinion of staying in Des Moines versus moving to a bigger city?

3. The Iowa State Fair had many attractions but what did boys hope to see the most?

4. For what was Bryson most notorious in high school and what did he do after graduation?

5. What were the circumstances when, for the second time, Bryson realized that adults could not be trusted?

6. How did the very long winter season impact the school children?

7. What did Bryson buy with his newspaper route money and what other interest did he develop at this time?

8. Describe the Audio Visual Club and why the boys were anxious to join.

9. What were Bryson's favorite books in school and why did he like them?

10. Describe the events surrounding Bryson's finally getting into the strippers' tent at the state fair.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Create a character study of Bill Bryson. What are his physical characteristics? What are his personality traits? What are his motivations? What are his fears? What else can you say about Bryson?

Essay Topic 2

Bryson is masterful at crafting literary descriptions for his readers. Choose a paragraph from the book which you find especially descriptive. How do you think Bryson was able to craft it the way he did? What is so appealing to you about the passage? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

Bryson is a master at dramatic devices. Choose an example of symbolism, metaphors, and irony, briefly describe them, and identify the technique which they embody.

(see the answer keys)

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