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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. What does Augusten state hating about his relationship with Neil Bookman?

2. Where does Deirdre meet Cesar Mendoza?

3. What does the Finch family hope to find when they visit the Christmas tree?

4. Who comes to help alleviate the situation when Deirdre is having a mental breakdown?

5. Where does Augusten meet the boy that he is immediately smitten with?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens when Brenda comes to visit the Finch family?

2. What messages does Hope claim to be receiving from the cat through her dreams?

3. How do Natalie and Augusten get on at college?

4. What significant event happens during Natalie and Augusten's first live performance at the mental health hospital?

5. What does Augusten witness on the last night before Deirdre is taken away by the police?

6. Why do Hope Finch and Neil Bookman get into a huge fight about Neil's relationship with Augusten?

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

8. What happens when Augusten sets out to dye Neil Bookman's hair?

9. Halfway through the memoir, the demeanor of the Finch family home begins to change. In what ways is stress affecting the family?

10. What happens after Augusten becomes smitten with the boy from the convenience store?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the beginning of the memoir, Augusten is filled with a deep admiration for his mother. Explain the way that Augusten viewed his mother when he was a child, and explain the way that Augusten's view of her changed as he grew older.

Essay Topic 2

Another theme that is very prevalent in the memoir is one of normalcy versus absurdity. Explain what Augusten thought was normal, and give an example of a time that he strove to be normal, fighting against his absurd surroundings. What was the outcome of Augusten's fight for normalcy in that situation?

Essay Topic 3

Augusten's biological brother, Troy, makes only one appearance throughout the memoir.

Part 1.) Describe Augusten's encounter with Troy in New York and the realization that Augusten had about his family after it.

Part 2.) Compare and contrast Augusten's relationship with his biological brother Troy to his relationship with his adopted sister Natalie. Which relationship seemed to have a larger effect on Augusten's view of the world? Use examples from the text to support your argument.

(see the answer keys)

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