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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. In the foreword, Bukowski says that the book contains selections from about _____ months worth of columns.

2. When Bukowski kills Bugsy during the final game, how long does he mention that the game is paused?

3. What time is it in section thirteen as the narrator wakes?

4. Bukowski says, during the final baseball game, that the Blues are behind 10 to 0 by which inning?

5. What is the little girl in the doctor's office playing with when Henry arrives?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Henry's ailment in section seventeen.

2. Why, in section fourteen, does Jack finally call the police and report himself as a murderer?

3. Why, according to section twelve, is Bukowski happy to be living in the age he is despite the chaos and corruption?

4. In section eight, what does Bukowski have to say about philosophers?

5. At the end of section one, what explanation does Bukowski give for the fight with Elf?

6. In section fourteen, where are the bodies located in the house?

7. In section sixteen, explain what event Red says he witnessed for which he was given a wallet to keep quiet.

8. In section seven, by what process does Bukowski pick the fight winners at the Olympic?

9. In section one, why is Bukowski stuck in his apartment?

10. According to Bukowski, why does the crowd continue to bet on the races after the riot on the field in section eight?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In what ways is Bukowski perfectly suited to his column? Could he write it for a more traditional newspaper? In a well-developed essay, analyze three characteristics of Bukowski's personality that make this column the perfect outlet for him.

Essay Topic 2

What does the experience with J.C. suggest about Bukowski's view of God? Using supporting information from the text, write and defend a thesis explaining Bukowski's view of religion.

Essay Topic 3

Overall, is Bukowski an optimist or a pessimist? Choose three situational examples from the text and decide whether he responds to each with the glass half-full or half-empty.

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