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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 calls a superb Dumpster diver in "Get Thee to the Nutrient Cycle!"?

2. What city does the author describe as having a lack of public restrooms in "An Abundance of Public Toilets"?

3. What does the author envision Kirkwood like in "The Volunteer"?

4. The author describes receiving a letter from a high school student where in "Found Things (2)"?

5. How old does the author say he and his brother were when a boy pinched the backs of their arms until they cursed in "Dickhead"?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the author describe happening to him and his brother in "Dickweed"?

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

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

4. What does the author remark about the writing of Jamaica Kincaid in "My Garden (Book)"?

5. How are the carrots described in "Pulling Carrots"? What do they symbolize?

6. What songs are discussed in "Toto"? Why are they discussed?

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

8. What movie is described in "Scat"? Why does the author discuss this movie?

9. What irony can be seen in the essay "Church Poets"?

10. Who is the central subject in the essay "The Volunteer"? How is this individual described?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In several of the essays in The Book of Delights, the author describes a scene that takes place in transit. How do these settings differ from others in the collection? What is symbolic about settings that are between two locales? How do the author's interactions in these settings differ from interactions elsewhere?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the education and career of author Ross Gay. Where did Gay grow up? Where did he attend college? What did he study? What works has he published prior to The Book of Delights?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the author's explorations of nature in The Book of Delights. What are examples of nature that are highlighted in the essays? What do they symbolize? How does the author connect delight with nature and gardening?

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