View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. At the town meeting which O'Rourke attended, the elderly retired people sat where?

2. O'Rourke says that because America is the richest nation on Earth, he is surprised to still what on the street?

3. On what day did O'Rourke attend a housing rally?

4. What is the common enemy that environmentalists have, according to the author?

5. Who was the deputy chief of the DEA's Cocaine Desk when O'Rourke's book was written?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does O'Rourke feel about Social Security after visiting the AARP?

2. How does O'Rourke feel about the Guardian Angels after his experience with them?

3. How does O'Rourke describe the USS Mobile Bay?

4. Explain how the government wastes billions of dollars on farm subsidies, according to O'Rourke.

5. How does O'Rourke describe environmentalists?

6. How does O'Rourke feel about the government's treatment of the nation's problem with drugs?

7. Why does O'Rourke say Americans will not find a solution to the problem of drugs in the country?

8. What does O'Rourke mean when he says that Social Security is like the nation picking its own pocket?

9. How does O'Rourke feel about his town government blocking the building of a golf course?

10. What does O'Rourke see when he spends an evening with the Washington DC police department?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Look at the significance of Jesse Jackson. What characteristics did O'Rourke see in Jackson that he was impressed by? What techniques does the author use to show that he is impressed by Jackson? Why does the author mention Jackson? What is he trying to say about him and about politicians in general?

Essay Topic 2

Explore O'Rourke's hypothetical U.S. budget. What does he feel about taxes? What does he cut from the budget? What seems to be the main goal of his budget? Do you think his proposed budget is plausible? Why or why not? Use examples from the text to support your ideas.

Essay Topic 3

Explore the title of O'Rourke's book. Who is he referring to when he speaks of the "parliament of whores"? Who are the "whores," and why does he use this word to describe this group? Use examples from the text to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 777 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample