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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 long did Jesse Jackson propose to freeze military spending?

2. How did O'Rourke describe Reagan's social programs?

3. O'Rourke joked that George H. W. Bush donned a costume and went by what name?

4. At what time of day was George H. W. Bush's 1991 budget finally "hammered out"?

5. O'Rourke says the Republican convention had the intellectual content of song lyrics by what band?

Short Essay Questions

1. What did a study show about the Audi 500 and its supposed runaway car syndrome?

2. How does O'Rourke feel about the concept of political conventions?

3. How does O'Rourke describe the Republican and Democratic platforms during the 1988 elections?

4. Why does O'Rourke say that George H. W. Bush's popularity plummeted?

5. How does O'Rourke describe the day he shadowed a congressman?

6. Describe the world O'Rourke envisions when he points out the flaws of the "majority rules" system.

7. How does O'Rourke feel that the American political system is like a Mexican Christmas fiesta?

8. Who does O'Rourke blame for the perceived poor state of the nation, and who does he let off the hook?

9. Why does O'Rourke seem to believe that being a congressman is a thankless job?

10. From O'Rourke's description, what does a congressman's job entail?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explore the author's feelings about the Republican and Democratic parties. How does he characterize Republicans and their ideals? How does he characterize Democrats and their ideals? What characteristic do the parties share? What faults does he find with each party? Does he say anything positive about each party?

Essay Topic 2

Explore the significance of Michael Dukakis in the book. How does O'Rourke use Dukakis' past experience as governor to mock him? What problems did he see with the way Dukakis led? What problems did he see with the promises Dukakis made to the U.S. citizens?

Essay Topic 3

Explore O'Rourke's views on the two presidential conventions he visits. How does O'Rourke describe the Republican convention? How does he describe the Democratic convention? In what ways are the conventions similar? How are they different?

(see the answer keys)

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