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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What movie is Bryson describing at the beginning of "The Wasteland"?
(a) Magnificent Obsession.
(b) The Brady Bunch.
(c) Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.
(d) Avatar.

2. According to Bryson, what does the Travel Industry Association of America say about shopping?
(a) The Grand Canyon needs a mall.
(b) It is the number one holiday activity of Americans.
(c) Without it, the American economy would crash.
(d) Americans should shop more, not less.

3. In "Drowning in Red Tape," what is Bryson frustrated about acquiring for his wife?
(a) Legal status in America.
(b) A library card.
(c) The right to work in the US.
(d) Health insurance.

4. When Bryson had his first book published, what did his publisher send him to?
(a) The largest book store in New York for a book signing.
(b) A resort to recover from his first book tour.
(c) A course in media training.
(d) A speech coach to get rid of his accent.

5. What was the "Millennium Bug" about, in regards to computers?
(a) It was an extremely destructive virus.
(b) It was a new very tiny computer.
(c) At midnight on January 1, 2000 all computers might shut down.
(d) No royalties would be paid to computer developers after that date.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Bryson find the most "mind-numbing" feature of modern television?

2. What does Bryson hate about Christmas?

3. According to Bryson, which of his sons might one day become a libel lawyer?

4. What February holiday does Bryson say is new to him on his return to the United States?

5. What does Bryson say about the long trip and back to take his son to college?

Short Essay Questions

1. Bryson relates his sad tale of trying to rent a car when he went to the Boston airport in "How to Rent a Car." What are some of the problems he encountered?

2. "Highway Diversions" is Bryson's look at highway travel, which he says is very dull. How does he compare modern highway travel to the highway travel of his youth?

3. Bryson explains the joys of living in a snowy climate in "Fun in the Snow." How does he give the reader the impression that he is not a natural athlete?

4. In "In Praise of Diners," Bryson talks about an old American institution that has almost disappeared, the diner restaurant. List at least three things he tells the readers about diners.

5. "Your Tax Form Explained", what does Bryson satirize? Give three examples of how he does this.

6. In "Ah, Summer!" what does Bryson say he likes about summers in New Hampshire? How does he compare them to summers in Iowa?

7. Bryson looks at obesity in "The Fat of the Land." Name three statistics he mentions in relation to obesity.

8. In "Shopping Madness," Bryson says there is a discipline called "retail anthropology." What is it ? What are some of the things it studies?

9. In "Deck the Halls," Bryson tells his readers that he is not looking forward to Christmas decorating. Why is this?

10. What does Bryson tell the reader about drive-in movies in "At the Drive-In"?

(see the answer keys)

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