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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In "Pearls," what does Amy's acupuncturist tell her is the source of her trauma?
(a) Her iridologist's remarks about her eye color.
(b) Seeing a mouse and a bug on the same day.
(c) Her favorite snack cakes being discontinued.
(d) Finding out that Gretchen named her cat "Amy."

2. In "Lady Marmalade," what does Sedaris say about Lou's physical aggression towards him and his siblings?
(a) Physical abuse is wrong, regardless of the context.
(b) It scarred each of the siblings in different ways.
(c) Sedaris would want to be allowed to act the same way toward his own children.
(d) Lou's aggression was mostly verbal and very seldom physical.

3. Where does the title "Pussytoes" come from?
(a) Lou's wife's nickname for him.
(b) The Sedaris siblings' childhood pet.
(c) Flowers in a park.
(d) A song that Lou used to sing.

4. In "Lady Marmalade," what does Sedaris imply that Tiffany stole from her siblings?
(a) Prescription drugs.
(b) Alcohol.
(c) Cash.
(d) Jewelry.

5. In "Pussytoes," which sibling ends up making the bulk of the arrangements after Lou's death?
(a) Paul.
(b) Gretchen.
(c) Lisa.
(d) Amy.

6. On page 194 of "A Better Place," what does Sedaris object to someone saying to describe Prince dying?
(a) "Transitioned."
(b) "Slept."
(c) "Went home."
(d) "Found peace."

7. In "Smile, Beautiful," what point is Sedaris trying to convey with the example of the woman whose face was injured by an animal bite?
(a) People with serious facial injuries should be pleased to be able to hide their injuries behind a mask.
(b) There is something strange about people who refuse to take advantage of medical interventions to fix serious facial injuries.
(c) The language used to describe atypical facial characteristics contributes to discrimination.
(d) People can be proud of themselves and like their own appearance regardless of whether it is typical.

8. On page 247 of "Lucky-Go-Happy," what space does Sedaris say he thinks of as his "office"?
(a) Coffee shops.
(b) Theaters.
(c) Hotels.
(d) Airports.

9. In "Fresh-Caught Haddock," what does Sedaris imply is true about attempts to point out various forms of racism in America?
(a) They go too far and target harmless people.
(b) They are attempts to appeal to Black voters.
(c) They are often met with deliberate misunderstanding.
(d) They are an example of the breakdown of American values.

10. In "Happy-Go-Lucky," what role does Sedaris say Hugh ends up playing when they visit Springmoor?
(a) Secretary.
(b) Nurse.
(c) Mediator.
(d) Servant.

11. In "Pearls," what was the subject of the Ladies' Home Journal column that Sedaris liked?
(a) Relationships.
(b) Entertaining.
(c) Astrology.
(d) Travel.

12. In "Smile, Beautiful," what nation does Sedaris specifically mention as having more relaxed dental standards than the United States?
(a) Japan.
(b) Australia.
(c) France.
(d) England.

13. In "Pearls," what does Sedaris call the "first step to divorce" (156)?
(a) Counseling.
(b) Silence.
(c) A lack of shared interests.
(d) Separate bedrooms.

14. In "Smile, Beautiful," what does a woman at a book signing tell Sedaris that brings him close to tears?
(a) He has inspired her to get her teeth fixed.
(b) He reminds her that looks do not matter.
(c) He has a beautiful smile.
(d) His book changed her life.

15. What most bothers Sedaris about the phrases he discusses in "A Better Place" ?
(a) They are self-serving.
(b) They are hypocritical.
(c) They are obvious lies.
(d) They are empty of meaning.

Short Answer Questions

1. In "Pearls," what does Amy's astrologer predict?

2. In "Happy-Go-Lucky," what event does Sedaris say released him from his obsessive consumption of the news?

3. In "A Better Place," what is Sedaris's response to the idea that his father will always be with him?

4. In "Happy-Go-Lucky," how old does Lou claim to be?

5. In "Pearls," what does Sedaris say his mother would often call to read him over the phone?

(see the answer keys)

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