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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through The Great Indoors, Death Watch, In Praise of Diners, Shopping Madness, The Fat of the Land, Your New Computer, How to Rent a Car, The Wasteland, The Flying Nightmare and Enough Already.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What disappeared in the north woods of New Hampshire in 1996 and was never found?
(a) A Lear jet.
(b) The Bryson's dog.
(c) A helicopter.
(d) A van full of illegal aliens.

2. In "The Best American Holiday," what does Bryson say about his mother?
(a) She had Thanksgiving catered.
(b) She tried, but the Thanksgiving meal was always a failure.
(c) She was a great cook.
(d) Once a year, for Thanksgiving, she'd make a great meal.

3. When looking for a place to live in the United States, what was the only thing Bryson liked about Adams, Massachusetts?
(a) It had a wonderful old-fashioned diner.
(b) All the houses were built before 1950.
(c) The library.
(d) The people there.

4. In "The Great Indoors," what does Bryson say people in America have developed a dislike of?
(a) Multi-grain bread.
(b) Law and order.
(c) Coffee.
(d) Fresh air.

5. In regards to his son's university education, what is Bryson so shocked about?
(a) How heavy the workload is for undergraduates.
(b) The cost of it.
(c) That his son would live in a co-ed dorm.
(d) How easy it is to get in.

Short Answer Questions

1. In the twenty years since Bryson left the United States, by how much have car numbers, roads, and mileage increased?

2. What does Bill discuss at the beginning of his essay on design flaws?

3. In "Highway Diversions," how does Bryson like to pass the time when he is driving on the highway?

4. Although the GDP is seen as a positive in economic terms, how does Bill say it can be negative?

5. What does Bill say is a new shopping experience for him on his return to America?

(see the answer key)

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