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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. Where does White take his family in the summer of 1979 for vacation?

2. What do Falwell and the other evangelists of his ilk continue to do?

3. What does Mel pretend at parties?

4. What happens a year after White writes Falwell?

5. What does Mel decide to sacrifice?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe White's first meeting with Gary Nixon.

2. Who is R. J. Rushdoony? What is his view about homosexuality and White's thoughts about that?

3. What happens one night when White becomes too stressed about his life? What does he do after that?

4. What does the religious right try to push through in Oregon, and what does White do about it?

5. Why does White decide to accept Piazza's offer?

6. What does White say about working with Falwell on the book, If I Should Die Before I Wake?

7. Who is David and how does White meet him?

8. How do Mel and Lyla stay connected, and what do Christian leaders say about White's new living situation? What does Lyla say in response to the Christian leaders?

9. How does White handle his relationship with David as far as Lyla is concerned?

10. Where does White take his family in the summer of 1979, and how does he feel about the time spent there with Lyla?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

1. What do you think are the characteristics of a successful work of non-fiction/memoir?

2. Analyze and discuss Stranger at the Gate based upon the criteria you decide upon in #1 and judge if Stranger at the Gate is a successful work of non-fiction/memoir.

3. Is Stranger at the Gate a book you would recommend to a friend? Why or why not? Explain.

4. Can a novel be successful and yet many readers not enjoy it? Explain your response.

Essay Topic 2

Most people are a mixture of admirable traits and character flaws, and both Mel White and Jerry Falwell are no exceptions.

1. Trace and analyze situations when White and Falwell each demonstrates his admirable traits. Give specific examples to illustrate your analysis.

2. Trace and analyze both White and Falwell's character flaws, and explain how the flaws create the conflicts in the book. How do you think either man's character flaws make some situations more difficult for him?

3. After analyzing each man's strengths and weaknesses, decide if each man is an appropriate "hero" of the story. Is there anyone else who might be a more admirable "hero"?

Essay Topic 3

Monogamy and marriage fidelity are topics that occur throughout Stranger at the Gate. Discuss the following:

1. What are the meanings of monogamy and fidelity?

2. Do you think monogamy is realistic in a long-term relationship? Why or why not?

3. Do you believe Mel is committing adultery when he is sexually involved with men though still married? Why or why not?

4. Do you think if gay marriage were legal, homosexual couples would be just as monogamous as heterosexual couples? Why or why not.

(see the answer keys)

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