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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. People from O'Rourke's town attempted to block the completion of what?

2. On what day did O'Rourke attend a housing rally?

3. What drug does O'Rourke says makes one acutely sensitive?

4. O'Rourke argues that pollution is a byproduct of what?

5. What senator said "A lot more of whatever needs doing needs to be done--let's spend, spend, spend" in response to the war on drugs?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What does O'Rourke see when he spends an evening with the Washington DC police department?

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

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

5. How did Blatherboro block the completion of a local golf course?

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

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

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

9. How does O'Rourke feel about the government's treatment of the nation's problem with drugs?

10. Who does O'Rourke blame for the savings and loan collapse?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explore O'Rourke's view of special interest groups. What does the author dislike about special interest groups? How does he characterize them? How does he characterize the people who are involved in them? What specific groups does he talk about? What problems does he see with them? What role does he believe special interest groups play in the politics?

Essay Topic 2

How does the author describe journalists? How does he seem to feel about these people? What techniques does the author use to show his opinions of Washington journalists? Why might his feelings about journalists be ironic? Does he address this irony?

Essay Topic 3

What is the significance of the story O'Rourke shares about shadowing a congressman on a "light" work day? What point is the author trying to make about congressmen and what is expected of them? How does O'Rourke feel about the general attitude toward congressmen? Are his feelings surprising to you? Why or why not? Use examples from the text to support your answer.

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