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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 does O'Rourke describe as an organism whose sole purpose is to aggrandize those in power?

2. O'Rourke comes to the conclusion that the president's role in government is largely symbolic after referring to a presidential agenda from what day?

3. Who was the presidential candidate for the Democrats when O'Rourke visited the political conventions of both parties?

4. For which presidential candidate did Lloyd Bentsen run as vice president?

5. Who was the attorney for the plaintiffs during a flag desecration case?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does O'Rourke feel about George H. W. Bush's rise to fame?

2. What examples does O'Rourke give to say that America's government now embodies the same tyrannical bent that compelled the American colonies to secede from England?

3. What did a study show about the Audi 500 and its supposed runaway car syndrome?

4. How does O'Rourke feel that the American political system is like a Mexican Christmas fiesta?

5. How does O'Rourke depict Washington journalists?

6. To what does O'Rourke attribute the problem of the national deficit?

7. From O'Rourke's description, what does a congressman's job entail?

8. How does O'Rourke suppose that most Americans feel about the United States government?

9. How does O'Rourke describe one-minute speeches?

10. How does O'Rourke feel about the Democratic speeches given during a visit to the House of Representatives?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explore O'Rourke's story concerning runaway car syndrome and the hype around it. What does runaway car syndrome have to do with bureaucracy? How do instances like runaway car syndrome seem to fuel increased bureaucracy? How does O'Rourke seem to feel about increased bureaucracy in the U.S. government? What techniques does the author use to convey these feelings?

Essay Topic 2

What techniques does the author use to offer up his metaphor of the government's similarities to King George III? What are some of the examples he gives to support his claims? What does he say the founding fathers disagreed with King George III about?

Essay Topic 3

How does the author characterize the U.S. government? What techniques does he use to convey his feelings about the government to the reader? What does he mean when he says the government goes unchecked? Who does he think should be checking it?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 881 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample