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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. According to section twelve, revolution is all BUT WHICH of the following?

2. In section twelve, Bukowski says to avoid all BUT WHICH of the following authors?

3. According to Freddie in section eleven, people are made of all BUT WHICH of the following?

4. Toward the end of section three, Bukowski gets a letter from his ex-wife. Where does she live?

5. After relating the rant from the sportscaster, Bukowski says that _____ out of 60 men on the street are cuckoo.

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe what letter Bukowski finds in his mailbox when he arrives home at the end of section three.

2. Bukowski spends some time in the foreword detailing his thoughts about fame and reputation. Explain his sentiments.

3. During the discussion of John Bryan, what reason does Bukowski give for Bryan's termination from the Herald-Examiner?

4. What does Bukowski mean at the end of section five when he says, "who cares about a dead battery?"

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

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

7. What does Bukowski say after relating the rant from the sportscaster who wants to lock up the mad?

8. Explain Jimmy Crispin's reasons for wanting to play baseball in section two.

9. In section thirteen, what conclusions does the narrator draw about the life he's led?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Is Bukowski simply unlucky with women, or is he purposely unlucky? Develop a thesis arguing whether his repeated relationship failures are pure mishap or if he plans them that way. Include supporting information from the text.

Essay Topic 2

What is Bukowski's true opinion of women? Pick three of the women from the book with whom he interacts and build a thesis based on his treatment of those three women. Include supporting information from the text.

Essay Topic 3

How does Bukowski feel about other members of his profession, and what personal qualities lead him to those opinions? Pick three of Bukowski's personal life tenets and discuss the ways in which other writers disappoint him in those areas. Include supporting information from the text.

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