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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. What type of laundry detergent does Fulghum claim he uses?

2. In the story of the town of San Saba, Fulghum tells of something that is creating a big excitement in town. Who creates this excitement?

3. In Chapter 13, Fulghum talks about his godchild having a crayon in one hand and what in the other?

4. Fulghum tells a story about a man who faced a computer with his abacus. What was this man's occupation?

5. How many years was Charles Boyer married to his wife?

Short Essay Questions

1. When Fulghum is reading the historical marker in the town square in San Saba in Chapter 6, what do a pair of elderly gentlemen tell him?

2. What are some things that Fulghum says he yells at?

3. What does Fulghum think of the way Charles Boyer ended his life?

4. What are some of the things that Fulghum learned in kindergarten that can be applied to everyone at any age?

5. What happened after Fulghum's washer died on him in the middle of a load of laundry?

6. In Chapter 6, why did the soldiers and priests set out for a spot on the San Saba River?

7. Why does Fulghum decide to tell the reader about his favorite place for chicken fried steak?

8. How does Fulghum's lawyer friend whom he mentions in Chapter 12 travel?

9. What were some of the reasons that Fulghum gives for visiting the town of San Saba?

10. Who is Charles Boyer? Why does Fulghum mention his story?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why do you think Fulghum ends his book the way he does? Does that help the reader reach a conclusion, or does it leave the reader hanging? Was this Fulghum's intention? Why or why not? Do you think Fulghum could have ended his book any other way? If so, how? If not, why do you think this was the most effective ending?

Essay Topic 2

In Chapter 32, Fulghum discusses the clay tablet in the British Museum that contains a census. Discuss some of the facts that Fulghum talks about concerning the earth's mass and people as they relate to each other. Why do you think Fulghum discusses the mass of the earth versus people and the quality of people in the first place? What is Locard's Exchange Principle, and how does it play a role in Fulghum's story? What does Fulghum mean when he says, "We are the stuff of stars"?

Essay Topic 3

Fulghum speaks of his lawyer friend who says that we should just be and that life is all crap and it's all lies. Why do you think his friend feels this way? Why do you think someone who has been through so many experiences in life still thinks that his philosophy on life is wrong? Do you think Fulghum believes that life is "all crap" and that we should "just be"? Why or why not? Do you think Fulghum's lawyer friend is being cynical about life, or is he being more skeptical? Explain your answers, and use specific examples from the book to support your answers.

(see the answer keys)

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