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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 the minimum age for admittance into the venue in #148 when Bryson was 13?

2. Research in the late 1950s indicated that ___________ caused cancer.

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

4. For how long was Bryson in a cast?

5. What supermarket remained from Bryson's youth?

Short Essay Questions

1. What did the adult Bryson recall about the Des Moines of his youth?

2. What did Bryson usually do when he spent time at his grandparents' home?

3. What were some of the unpleasant issues Americans faced in 1957 even though the Gallup organization claimed it was a very happy year?

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

5. What did the adult Bryson recall about what happened to his parents and friends?

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

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

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

9. What was Bryson's elementary school and what were some of the features that made it so nice?

10. Where did Bryson's grandparents live and what did he love about the place?

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

Why did Bryson choose to use the first person perspective for the stories? What does this point of view entail? What do you know about the characters and the plot lines that you would not know from a different point of view? What do you NOT know about the characters and plot lines based on this point of view?

Essay Topic 3

Bryson wrote the book with an overall theme of a simpler life. Choose three situations from any of the stories and explain the uncomplicated life in each. How did Bryson view this simple life at the time? How did he view them as an adult?

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