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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 did the Brysons spend a night in a cheap hotel?

2. What did Bryson have to do three nights a week for his job?

3. What was Bill's reaction after the Cuban Missile Crisis?

4. What did Bryson and other boys especially look forward to at the venue in #147?

5. What was the name of the dog that harassed Bryson?

Short Essay Questions

1. What did Bryson usually do when he spent time at his grandparents' home?

2. What were some of the unpleasant issues Americans faced in 1957 even though the Gallup organization claimed it was a very happy year?

3. What did Bryson buy with his newspaper route money and what other interest did he develop at this time?

4. What were the circumstances when, for the second time, Bryson realized that adults could not be trusted?

5. What was Bryson's elementary school and what were some of the features that made it so nice?

6. What happened to The Thunderbolt Kid's sacred jersey?

7. Where did Bryson's grandparents live and what did he love about the place?

8. What did Bryson learn about his parents that pleased him and how did this change his views of his real parentage?

9. Describe the events surrounding Bryson's finally getting into the strippers' tent at the state fair.

10. Who was Dewey and how did he impact Bryson's job?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Bryson wrote the book with an overall theme of a simpler life. Choose three situations from any of the stories and explain the uncomplicated life in each. How did Bryson view this simple life at the time? How did he view them as an adult?

Essay Topic 2

Describe the overall settings for the book. What is important about each setting as it is revealed? What are the time periods of the stories? How important are the time periods to the attitudes and issues of the people?

Essay Topic 3

Describe the format of the book. How does Bryson distinguish between current activity and flashbacks to his past? What is the difference is style and tone? Are the differentiations separated visually in any way? How did this improve your reading of this book?

(see the answer keys)

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