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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. At the end of the essay, Miss Sampson tricks Sedaris by

2. Lou Sedaris is concerned about Amy's looks because

3. The irony of the fisherman's position is that

4. When visiting home, Amy tortures her father by

5. Sedaris questions

Short Essay Questions

1. How are Valencia and Patrick different?

2. How does the statement "You Can't Kill the Rooster" relate to Paul's personality?

3. How are Sedaris' parents described differently in the chapter?

4. What does Sedaris find unusual about the way the food in his neighborhood restaurants is served on the plate.

5. What reasons does Sedaris list for hating computers?

6. Why does Sedaris suggest Miss Sampson's "timing was off" when she reveals her human side during their last session?

7. Describe Bonnie's character in City of Angels.

8. What attributes of Paul's relationship with his father seem to balance out his directness and crude behavior?

9. What is Sedaris' attitude toward the wealthy at the start of the essay?

10. Describe Sedaris' tone in relation to his own artistic talents.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Consider Sedaris description of the characters in his book as wealthy or otherwise. How does money affect the attitudes or personalities described in Sedaris' essays? Based on his descriptions of individuals, create an essay in which you identify Sedaris' attitude toward wealthy and its affect on people.

Essay Topic 2

Sedaris mentions many means of escapism in his essays. Considering his references to avoiding reality and interactions with others, write an essay in which you identify at least three symbols of escapism Sedaris uses, and draw a conclusion about Sedaris' reason for using these methods. Support your position with specific examples from the text.

Essay Topic 3

Consider the motifs of loss and change in Sedaris' book. Then write an essay in which you describe Sedaris' attitude toward these two motifs, supporting your ideas with specific examples from the text.

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