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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. Liane states that she could often hear the _____ words of a sentence or conversation.

2. Liane had trouble dealing with ______ situations, and she did not know how to react.

3. According to the book, each symptom of Asperger's syndrome is uniquely manifested and some individuals never receive _______.

4. Liane moved from her college town to Houston, Texas shortly after completing her ________ degree.

5. Liane found her situation at _____ to be equally difficult as it was at school. Her friends were all headed for new goals.

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Liane describe as being one of her major challenges for interacting with her peers?

2. Liane's grades in high school paved the way for a college education, and she thought that only a large university would fit her academic goals. What was her experience upon arriving?

3. What are some of the things that Liane learned about herself when she was performing her speeches on stage?

4. Liane states that there are some people that have given her a real gift of freedom. What have these people done to give her this gift?

5. What was one of Liane's biggest social challenges while she was still in high school?

6. What does Willey suggest as the appropriate focus for helping those with AS to live better lives?

7. What social challenges did Liane describe about meeting people and wanting to give them small gifts of appreciation?

8. What are some of the variables that affect the prognosis for those diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome and what is the general prognosis?

9. Liane eventually found some success in expressing herself through the speech and dramatic arts club. What did she enjoy about speech?

10. What are some of the items that Liane describes having a taste for that eventually culminated in trips to the hospital?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The title of the book is PRETENDING TO BE NORMAL. The idea of normality is one of the biggest themes in this book.

Part 1: Is there a valid definition of what is normal for human behavior and experience? Why or why not?

Part 2: Is being normal something to celebrate? Why or why not? How does Willey feel about being "normal"?

Part 3: What are some ways to acknowledge the different experiences of people with AS without pathologizing?

Essay Topic 2

Liane remarks that she could have done better in high school if there were more rules about what she was supposed to do.

Part 1: What are the unspoken rules for being in high school? These kinds of rules can be thought of as taboo. How do you teach someone about taboo?

Part 2: If there had been an actual set of rules, could Liane have memorized them all? Would this have impacted her experience? Why or why not?

Part 3: Imagine that you were sent to another planet as an ambassador for Earth. How would you learn the rules of that culture? What might some of your challenges be?

Essay Topic 3

Liane states that she was often able to forget bad old memories, especially having to do with her experiences in high school.

Part 1: Is the ability to forget bad memories positive or negative? Why?

Part 2: What effect did this strategy of Liane's have on her experiences of being alone and isolated in college?

Part 3: Do you think that forgetting bad memories would also make you forget good memories? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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