View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Valencia is

2. Sedaris' father asks him if he knows

3. The scientific term Sedaris fears his father will use is

4. Lou Sedaris busies himself

5. The dog Mr. and Mrs. Sedaris coddled as empty-nesters was

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How does Sedaris' mother respond to the music lessons the kids are taking?

3. What features of the the typewriter does Sedaris praise?

4. Why does Sedaris resist learning to play the guitar?

5. Describe Amy Sedaris' appearance in the much-anticipated magazine article.

6. How does the speech therapist continue to bring Sedaris' lisp to his attention?

7. Why does Sedaris claim to prefer the belief that his television is inhabited by tiny humans over a scientific explanation of its workings?

8. Why does Sedaris believe his his parents are so lenient with Melina, the Great Dane?

9. Why does Sedaris claim he lives in constant fear as Mr. Sedaris?

10. Why does Sedaris feel his father admired jazz so much as a young man?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Comedian George Carlin once said, ""When you're born, you get a ticket to the freak show. When you're born in America, you get a front row seat." Write an essay in which you identify Sedaris' attitude toward the freakish qualities of Americans. Be sure to use specific examples from the text to support your ideas.

Essay Topic 2

Consider the quote, ""Genius has limitations; stupidity is boundless." Write an essay in which you defend, refute, or qualify the previous statement, using Sedaris' musings on his own limitations as support for your argument.

Essay Topic 3

What expectations does Sedaris seem to have for American behavior? What stereotypes does he point out other nations have attributed to Americans? Write an essay in which you defend, refute, or qualify at least three stereotypes Sedaris identifies in Americans.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 647 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample