View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What word does Hope come across during her Bible-dip telling Augusten whether or not he should move?

2. What career does Augusten aspire to at the age of 12?

3. At the beginning of the book, what is Augusten's mother getting dressed to attend?

4. What sport did Terrence Maxwell play semi-professionally?

5. What is Augusten's reaction to the meeting with Neil Bookman?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Augusten become obsessed with, relating to his future employment aspirations?

2. How do Augusten's family members react to his admission of his relationship with Neil Bookman?

3. What is Augusten uncomfortable at school, and what does he do about it?

4. What is the state of Norman and Deirdre Burroughs' relationship?

5. What happens in the event leading up to the Burroughs starting marital counseling?

6. What happens when Poo Bear walks in on the kids playing with the electroshock machine?

7. What is Augusten's reaction to meeting Kate Finch?

8. How does Agnes respond to Dr. Finch's mistresses?

9. Why does Hope bring Augusten to meet Neil?

10. What is Augusten looking forward to doing after his mother leaves for the poetry reading?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Throughout most of Augusten's life, Dierdre is in tumultuous and unhealthy relationships.

Part 1.) Give examples of three relationships that Deirdre was in during Augusten's childhood and explain why they were unhealthy.

Part 2.) Explain the way that each of these relationships had a larger effect on Augusten's life and perception of love.

Essay Topic 2

At the conclusion of the memoir, many readers will side with Augusten in his belief that the Finch household was a terrible place to grow up, but they were the only stability that he had as a child. Give three examples of times when the Finches proved that they had Augusten's best interests at heart, and explain why the Finches may have been portrayed in a bad light throughout the memoir.

Essay Topic 3

Both Natalie and Augusten enter sexually abusive relationships with much older partners. Compare and contrast the two relationships and explain what each character learned about themselves after escaping the abuse.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 684 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample