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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. Whose childhood stories does Sedaris borrow for this essay?

2. How does Sedaris solve his problem naming masculine and feminine nouns in public?

3. Why has Sedaris' conscience been bothering him?

4. Though the teacher ridicules him in the end, Sedaris is proud because

5. Thanks to his sister, Amy, Sedaris learns

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Sedaris finally conclude about his obsession with crossword puzzles?

2. Describe one way in which Sedaris attempts to memorize masculine and feminine nouns.

3. Why are Sedaris' fantasies about manipulating American people rather than French people?

4. Why does Sedaris believe he cannot have the same movie-viewing experiences in America that he has in Paris?

5. What helps Sedaris overcome his distaste for the Walkman?

6. Why is Sedaris devastated to learn that his former boyfriend works the Times crossword puzzle?

7. How has Sedaris' childhood been different from Hugh's?

8. How does Sedaris attempt to charm his teacher with his humor?

9. Why does the barber refuse to believe Jodi Foster would clean up after her own dog while walking on the beach?

10. Why is Reggie so indignant about his job on the construction site clean-up crew?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Considering Sedaris' use of humor when writing about himself or people in general. Evaluate the effect of his humor on the essays you have read. Then write an essay of your own in which you determine how successful Sedaris' use of humor is in conveying the themes of his pieces. Use specific examples from the text to support your point.

Essay Topic 2

Consider Sedaris' reflections on French and American culture. Based on these reflections, write an essay in which you argue whether Sedaris seems to "belong" in France or America. Use specific examples from the text to support your argument.

Essay Topic 3

Through several of his essays, Sedaris explores the theme of belonging. Choose three examples from the text that illustrate Sedaris' feelings about belonging, and write an essay in which you explore his viewpoint, supporting your argument with text.

(see the answer keys)

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