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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. How do politicians tend to view journalists, according to Thompson?

2. What is unusual about Thompson's description of himself in the Introduction?

3. What does Thompson believe is the source of the journalists' most common writing problem?

4. Why does Thompson appear to feel relieved and more justified in his habits during "June?"

5. According to Thompson, what group was responsible for settling the South?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Thompson explain the journalistic term "pitch?"

2. What is significant about Eagleton's hiding his battles with depression?

3. What is significant about the rumored "ten thousand naked hippies?"

4. Why does Thompson encounter difficulty in becoming an official member of the press for the federal government?

5. In the early days of the campaign trail, how does Thompson's demeanor and attire compare to the other journalists?

6. How do Thompson and the other journalists deal with their boredom in "May"?

7. In the Introduction, how does Thompson explain his drug use?

8. Where are some of the places the campaign visits in "May" and why?

9. How does Jerry Rubin tarnish Thompson's reputation?

10. How does Thompson describe the feeling for a politician when hearing a particular song in the Nebraska primary?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss these governmental and political concepts Thompson writes about in the following format:

Part 1) The voting demographic.

Part 2) The pendulum swing of politics.

Part 3) The frequent meet-and-greets with the constituents.

Part 4) Honesty and dishonesty.

Part 5) Speech writers.

Part 6) Pitching for votes.

Cite specific examples from the text to support your answers.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the presidential candidates in the following format. Be sure to mention how Thompson perceives each of these men and how he feels about them, as well as how they ran their campaign.

Part 1) George McGovern.

Part 2) Richard Nixon.

Part 3) Edmund Muskie.

Part 4) George Wallace.

Cite specific examples from the text to support your answers.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the relationship between politicians and journalists in the following format:

Part 1) How journalists feel about politicians.

Part 2) How politicians feel about journalists.

Part 3) Thompson's opinions on politicians.

Part 4) Thompson's encounters with the politicians, especially Nixon.

Part 5) The Zoo Plane and its exclusivity.

Part 6) Thompson and Mankiewicz.

Cite specific examples from the text to support your answers.

(see the answer keys)

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