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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 movie does the author recommend the reader see in "Among the Rewards of My Sloth..."?

2. What phrase is denoted in all-caps in "Stacking Delights"?

3. Who is the main subject of the essay "Baby, Baby, Baby"?

4. Who is the author's friend that has been writing a book about innocence, according to his essay "The Negreeting"?

5. What was tested on Vertus Hardiman?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the author describe his audience in "Weirdly Untitled"?

2. How is Don Belton described in "Flower in the Curb"?

3. What delights are described by the author in "Among the Rewards of My Sloth..."?

4. What song is discussed in "Donny Hathaway on Pandora"? What is the subject of the song?

5. What does the author observe about the etymology of the word "essay" in "Blowing It Off"?

6. Who is the main subject in the essay "Baby, Baby, Baby"?

7. What delight does the author discover in "Umbrella in the Cafe"?

8. What kind of plant is described in "The Irrepressible: The Gratitudes"? What are the author's impressions of the plant?

9. How does the author describe the bellhop in "Beast Mode"?

10. What animal is described in "Not Only..."? Where is it described?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the themes/motifs of racial stereotypes and prejudices in The Book of Delights. How did racism affect the author's parents? How has it affected him in his childhood and adulthood? What statements does the author make regarding racism?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the themes of sorrow and death in The Book of Delights. How does the author incorporate these themes into a book about joy? What symbols relate to these themes? What individuals are thematically connected to these concepts?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the importance of setting in The Book of Delights. What different settings are described in the essays of the collection? Which stand out the most? How is setting a source of delight for the author?

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