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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. Even though the year in #157 was a happy one, who was still excluded from many places in America?

2. What color was the barn on Bryson's grandparents' farm?

3. What did Bryson say about the Des Moines of his youth?

4. What killed the elm trees in Des Moines at the end of the 1950s?

5. What happened to the Thunderbolt Kid's sacred jersey?

Short Essay Questions

1. What were the weather extremes in Winfield?

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

3. What did Bryson and his friends do when they went to the movie matinees?

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

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

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

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

8. Who was Dewey and how did he impact Bryson's job?

9. What was Bryson's job as a boy and how did his absentmindedness become a liability?

10. What was the recovery process for Bryson's broken leg?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Create a character study of Bryson. What were his physical characteristics? What were his motivations? What were his fears? What were his dreams? What else can you say about Bryson?

Essay Topic 2

There are several events of foreshadowing in the stories. Define foreshadowing. Cite at least two situations in the stories that serve as foreshadowing.

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.

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This section contains 950 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample