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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. Bryson stated that if he lived in Australia he would constantly be looking for _______________.

2. What was an early name given to Australia by the Europeans?

3. What was the name of Lt. James Cook's ship?

4. What had Bryson hoped to see in the South Australia Museum?

5. Bryson is struck by a shop in Young offering pets and _______________.

Short Essay Questions

1. To what did Bryson compare the lush Barossa Valley?

2. What man was unwittingly responsible for the barren land surrounding the town of Hay?

3. After Thomas Austin's rabbit debacle, what immigrant animal is Australia's worst menace?

4. What two venues had Bryson wanted to visit in Adelaide but could not?

5. Who joined Bryson for the first leg of his journey and what was their first stop?

6. On what did Bryson tend to focus on while walking through Sydney and Canberra?

7. What did Bryson claim to have done that few Australians have ever done?

8. What was Bryson's former experience in Australia and what were his plans for this trip?

9. What did early European explorers think Australia was when they saw it or landed on it?

10. Explain why the 1950s saw a boom in Australia's population.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Bryson is masterful at crafting literary descriptions for his readers. Choose a paragraph from the book which you find especially descriptive. How do you think Bryson was able to craft it the way he did? What is so appealing to you about the passage? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

Create a "character" sketch of the city of Adelaide. What personality shines through for you for this city? Did Bryson make you want to learn more and perhaps visit one day? What would you most like to see? What is the one fact or interesting feature that you can recall about Adelaide? xplain.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss Bryson's writing style. How is he different from other writers of his time? What are some of his characteristic writing techniques? Identify some examples of his classic style in this book.

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