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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. Who is the author's friend that he describes riding with to visit his grandfather's house in "The Carport"?

2. Who does the author describe as having almost drunk his pee in "Get Thee to the Nutrient Cycle!"?

3. Where did the author's friend Jack get him a blade while attending a scything conference in "My Scythe Jack"?

4. What tree blossoms does the author describe as smelling like lemons in "The Purple Cornets of Spring"?

5. Where does the author describe riding the country roads with his grandfather in "The Wave of Unfamiliars"?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is setting important in the essay "Botan Rice Candy"? What settings are described in this essay?

2. What similes and metaphors are seen in "The Purple Cornets of Spring"?

3. What does the author say about exploitation in "Still Processing"?

4. What statue is described in "Flowers in the Hands of Statues"? How is it described?

5. What is the author's central point in "Incorporation"?

6. How does the author describe his grandfather in "The Wave of Unfamiliars"?

7. What is the setting of "Pawpaw Grove"? How is it described?

8. How is the man on the bike described in "Touched"?

9. How does the author describe his mother's demeanor in "Judith Irene Gay, Aged Seventy-six Today!"?

10. What commentary does the author provide regarding the act of loitering in "Loitering"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the differences between literature and spoken poetry or readings. Why does the author prefer poetry readings and performance to reading alone? How does the author's prose in The Book of Delights differ when read aloud? How does this relate to the book's themes?

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

Identify and discuss three examples of irony in The Book of Delights. How does the author use verbal irony for humor? What, if any, dramatic irony is employed? How is situational irony used? To what effect?

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