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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. Where are the senior citizens visiting the "Little White House" from?

2. What does Bryson say is a relative term similar to a "scenic route" on a map?

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

4. What is the Mississippi police officer trying to ask Bryson in his thick accent?

5. When Bryson's car begins to skid, what noise does he make?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Bryson generalize towns from his youth?

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

3. Why is the south like a foreign country to Bryson?

4. What is disappointing about the Mississippi to Bryson?

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

6. How does Bryson feel about signs and billboards?

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

8. How do the tourists in Warm Springs embody Bryson's dislikes?

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

10. What do Bryson's expectations in revisiting his grandparents' home say about him?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Aside from sightseeing, Bryson is very concerned with his natural surroundings in both their glory and inadequacy. Discuss how Bryson uses the environment to convey his views of regions and America as a whole.

Essay Topic 2

Bryson occasionally detours to an anecdote while traveling. At times, the tie is clear but not so much in others. Discuss Bryson's use of anecdotes and how it fleshes out or conveys something about the moments Bryson diverges.

Essay Topic 3

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?

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This section contains 926 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample