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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. While visiting Abe Lincoln's home-town, Bryson quickly becomes ______.

2. What does Bryson first notice when crossing the line to North Carolina?

3. What does Bryson believe the youth of today is lacking?

4. In contrast to Britain, Bryson finds that Iowa has ______ color.

5. What does Bryson say he set out to Missouri with?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Bryson generalize towns from his youth?

2. Does Bryson have a conflicted relationship with North Carolina? What constitutes this relationship?

3. What, in Bryson's opinion, is good about being from Des Moines?

4. Why does Bryson draw ties to movies? How does this aid the narrative?

5. Why was Abe Lincoln's home more fun for Bryson and his generation that it is for the youth of today?

6. What is the most fun Bryson can have in Carbondale?

7. Does Bryson view his grandparents critically or endearingly? How does he portray them?

8. What is the greatest barrier Bryson faces in southern towns?

9. How does Auburn, AL prompt more of Bryson's criticisms of youth?

10. Do people ever get out of Des Moines, according to Bryson? Why or why not?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Bryson is more drawn to small towns rather than big cities. Discuss Bryson's stance and opinion on development in America.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss who Bryson's audience is: who is he writing for? What are subtleties in his writing that imply an aim at a certain audience? Who is he trying to appeal to and why?

Essay Topic 3

Bryson expressed his objective of returning to the land of his youth at the beginning of the book. Discuss Bryson's successes or failures in his objective.

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