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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. For what does Jeffrey S. feel guilty?

2. In what is Lyla totally uninterested?

3. Who is Noni?

4. Why does Mel feel guilty on his honeymoon?

5. What happens to Jeffrey eventually?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Mel afraid to ask the young seminarian and why?

2. From where does Mel say his self hatred arose?

3. Whom does Mel consider himself a child of as far as religion is concerned?

4. Describe Mel's brief involvement with Ted.

5. Where is White called to become the senior pastor, and what does Lyla do at the same church?

6. How does Lyla become a Christian?

7. How does Mel describe his grandmother Noni as far as religion is concerned?

8. Describe Mel's relationship with Gordon H.

9. What movie and book does White produce while serving as the pastor of Evangelical Covenant?

10. How does Mel try to avoid being discovered as being gay?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Mel White writes of the bullying and suicide problems among homosexuals, especially gay boys and men. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think homosexuals, especially males, are bullied? Do you think bullying of homosexuals (or anyone) is justified for any reason?

2. Do you know of any instances when a homosexual you know or know of has been bullied? Was anything done to remedy the situation? What? If not, what do you think should have been done?

3. Why do you think suicide is higher among young homosexuals than young people in general? Do you think anything can be done to change that? What?

4. Do you know any homosexual who has attempted or succeeded at suicide? Do you know the reason(s)?

Essay Topic 2

Stranger at the Gate is a memoir by Mel White. Discuss the following:

1. Define the word "genre" in the context of literary criticism.

2. Why do you think literature is categorized by genre?

3. Does it help to know how a book is categorized as to its genre before reading it? Explain.

4. Memoir used to be considered inferior to what are considered "the classics." Why do you think this is so? Do you believe a book such as Stranger at the Gate is inferior to something such as A Tale of Two Cities? Explain.

5. What is your favorite genre and why?

Essay Topic 3

Mel White considers himself a child of the Religious Right, raised in evangelical nondenominational churches by an incredibly devout family, always in the thick of the evangelical movement. Discuss the following:

1. Research the history of the religious right in the United States and write an informative essay of what you learned.

2. Write an argument/persuasive essay on the following question: Is being a religious fanatic better than having no beliefs?

3. How reliable do you think Mel White is as a narrator when it comes to his perception of the religious right? Discuss fully using examples from the text.

(see the answer keys)

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