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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. The author blames the savings and loan collapse on soaring interest rates caused by what administration?

2. O'Rourke's wife asked him about a hurricane that hit what state?

3. O'Rourke characterizes what group in Afghanistan as deceitful, violent and self-serving?

4. O'Rourke accuses ecological activists of ignoring what?

5. Who said, "What we want from the taxpayers is continual cooperation!" in regard to America's drug problem?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does O'Rourke feel that the best policy for dealing with Afghani Pathan tribesman is to just stay away from them?

2. Why does O'Rourke believe that a lot of money should be spent on the American military?

3. Explain how the government wastes billions of dollars on farm subsidies, according to O'Rourke.

4. Why does O'Rourke say Americans will not find a solution to the problem of drugs in the country?

5. How does O'Rourke describe environmentalists?

6. How does O'Rourke feel about the war in Afghanistan?

7. Why does O'Rourke fault environmentalists for making "big business" out to be the enemy?

8. How does O'Rourke feel about claims of collateral damage during Operation Just Cause?

9. How does O'Rourke feel about his town government blocking the building of a golf course?

10. How does O'Rourke feel about the housing project he visits in Newark?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explore the perspective used in this nonfiction work. How would O'Rourke's lessons about the government be different if they were written from a third-person perspective, like they would be in a text book? What could the reader gain from a less personal perspective? What is gained from the first-person perspective and the first-hand examples that he uses instead?

Essay Topic 2

Explore the title of O'Rourke's book. Who is he referring to when he speaks of the "parliament of whores"? Who are the "whores," and why does he use this word to describe this group? Use examples from the text to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 840 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample