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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 is the author's father's name?

2. The author writes in the first essay, "It seemed that every Christmas my mother was _______."

3. What does the author's father collect in a goldfish bowl for good luck?

4. Who does "Cyclops" refer to in Naked?

5. What class does the narrator take when he is in junior high?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does the author's mother leave behind a video for Lisa? What is on it?

2. Why do David's teachers come to his home? What is their impression of his mother?

3. What does Lisa complain about in "Women's Open"? How does her father react?

4. How was David's father brought up? How is his mother's cooking described?

5. Who injures the author in "Cyclops"? What is the result?

6. What does David fantasize about his "real parents" in "Chipped Beef"?

7. What does David's mother insist he stop doing to the cat? Why?

8. When does Ya Ya die? How does the family react?

9. What leads Ya Ya to need to be cared for? How does this lead to arguments between the author's parents?

10. Describe the family's participation at church as detailed in "Chipped Beef."

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe and discuss where the principle setting is of the earlier essays in Naked. How does the author feel about where he grew up?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the author's use and description of setting in Naked. How does Sedaris create a visual effect upon the reader? What settings are described in great detail?

Essay Topic 3

Which essay examines the author's homosexuality? What does he use as the comparison/juxtaposition of his homosexuality? Describe the events and themes of the essay.

(see the answer keys)

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