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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. David characterizes Nic as a child who does what every time he encounters a puddle?

2. David's roommate in college was a student named Charles who hailed from which New York City borough?

3. What is the name of Nic's little sister?

4. Nic is arrested for failing to appear in court after being cited for what crime?

5. What adjective does David use to describe Nic's kindergarten in San Francisco?

Short Essay Questions

1. How do the themes of secrecy and deception emerge within the memoir's introduction?

2. What reason does Sheff provide for his decision to forego foreshadowing within the memoir?

3. What kinds of contradictory advice does David receive about Nic when Nic is getting into trouble as a teenager?

4. For what purpose does David Sheff use an allusion to the film Welcome to the Dollhouse at the opening of Chapter 6?

5. What pattern does David note in Nic's literary tastes in high school?

6. Discuss Sheff's purpose for providing statistics about methamphetamine use in the introduction.

7. How does David Sheff characterize his friend Charles?

8. How does David react when Nic offers him a hit of a marijuana joint when they are out on a walk together?

9. What is the symbolism of the word everything?

10. How is the theme of family bonds depicted within the scene of Daisy's birth?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What ultimate message is David Sheff's memoir Beautiful Boy sending about the nature and value of compassion?

Essay Topic 2

How is the theme of deception portrayed in David Sheff’s memoir? Examine the author's treatment of and messages regarding deception throughout the work.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the paradoxes inherent in the struggle against addiction and analyze how Sheff portrays these paradoxical elements within the memoir.

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