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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Section 4: "The Vacuum" through "Fresh-Caught Haddock".

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In "Pearls," how does Sedaris characterize the marital problems people faced in the 1970's and 1980's?
(a) Overblown.
(b) Inevitable.
(c) Basic.
(d) Serious.

2. In "Hurricane Season," what information does Gretchen habitually irritate Sedaris with?
(a) She tells him about her past sexual experiences.
(b) She tells him things Hugh has said behind his back.
(c) She tells him about online criticism of him.
(d) She tells him her theories about what her dreams mean.

3. In "To Serbia with Love," what irritates Sedaris about his driver in Lisbon?
(a) He keeps stopping to describe historical and cultural attractions.
(b) His lack of map reading skills gets them lost several times.
(c) He refuses to keep his eyes on the road when he is talking.
(d) His English is too fractured to understand.

4. In "A Speech to the Graduates," what does Sedaris mention having purchased at Sotheby's?
(a) A Piguet watch.
(b) A Ming-Dynasty vase.
(c) A first-edition copy of Tom Sawyer.
(d) A Picasso painting.

5. In "Father Time," what does Sedaris say he was primarily interested in when he was Austen's and Harrison's age?
(a) Reading.
(b) Nature.
(c) Puzzles.
(d) Sports.

Short Answer Questions

1. In "To Serbia with Love," what is one of the main things that Sedaris explicitly says Westerners have that people from Eastern Europe lack?

2. In "Highfalutin," what feature that he and Amy share embarrasses Sedaris at lunch?

3. In "The Vacuum," what is Sedaris's first thought when he hears a man shouting "Look at the fucking clown!" (147)?

4. In "The Vacuum," what does Sedaris's agent say will put sex workers out of business?

5. What is ironic about Lisa turning out to be the better shooter?

(see the answer key)

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