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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. On what street does the author describe seeing "a man riding a jenky bike down the sidewalk" (233) in "Touched"?

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

3. Where was the author on a teaching fellowship when he met up with his friend and professor Susan Blake in the narrative of "Cuplicking"?

4. What kind of trees does the author associate with Jesus in "Understory"?

5. When is the essay "My Life, My Life, My Life, My Life in the Sunshine" dated?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. What commentary does the author include regarding New York City in "An Abundance of Public Toilets"?

5. What event is central in "An Abundance of Public Toilets"? Why does the author find delight in this occasion?

6. How is the young man described in "It's Just the Day I'm Having..."?

7. How is the word "jenky" defined and illustrated in "The Jenky"?

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

9. What is the setting of "Public Lying Down"? Why is setting important in this essay?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the author's allusions and references to popular culture in The Book of Delights. What musicians, songs, and films are referenced by the author? How do these works relate to his themes in this collection? How do they connect to the author's delight?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the structure of The Book of Delights. How many essays comprise the collection? How do the essays flow into one another? Is there a relationship between each essay? Why do you think the author has structured the collection in this way?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the author's characterizations of the people around him in The Book of Delights. What individuals from the author's life are incorporated into the book? How are they described? How do these characterizations reflect upon the author's themes in the work?

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