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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. Which character suffers a stroke, but continues working?

2. What happens to Dr. Finch after the close of the memoir?

3. What does Augusten vow to become when he grows up?

4. What is Augusten's reaction to Neil Bookman's disappearance?

5. Which character dies from heart failure?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Augusten realize about the places that he has lived in relationship to his hopes and dreams for the future?

2. What does Augusten explain has happened to Dr. Finch and Deirdre in the epilogue?

3. How do the Finch family respond to having their furniture outside?

4. What happens when Augusten and Natalie go into the city to search for part-time jobs?

5. Why do the Finch family still have a Christmas tree in May?

6. What are the consequences of Deirdre taking Cesar home with her from the mental hospital?

7. What happens when Natalie loses her earrings in the hotel?

8. What happens to the rest of the Finch family in the epilogue?

9. What happens when Natalie and Augusten go to visit Father Kimmel in town?

10. What does Deirdre confess to Augusten that drives a wedge between him and Natalie?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The cleanliness of the Finch household and its inhabitants was often called into question by Augusten.

Part 1.) Give three examples of the dilapidation of the house and the uncleanliness inside.

Part 2.) Explain why you think the Finch family should, or should not have been expected to do better, given Dr. Finch's profession.

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 Augusten and the Finch children seem to have grown up completely neglected by their parents.

Part 1.) Create a list of three examples that illustrate parental neglect in the memoir.

Part 2.) Create a list of three examples that illustrate the way that the children handled the neglectful situations, ensuring that their basic needs were met.

Part 3.) Argue whether you believe that the Finch's actually neglected their children, or chose to employ unusual parenting techniques. Use examples from the text to support your argument.

(see the answer keys)

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