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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In "Happy-Go-Lucky," what is Sedaris relieved that his father does not remember accurately?
(a) How much of their family's laughter was directed at him.
(b) The real circumstances under which he got the guitar.
(c) The negative things Sedaris has written about him.
(d) Their mother's illness and death.

2. In "A Better Place," what does Sedaris say is the subject of our greatest art?
(a) Family.
(b) Death.
(c) Change.
(d) Love.

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

4. In "Smile, Beautiful," how long does Sedaris have to wear his braces?
(a) 14 months.
(b) 7 months.
(c) 14 weeks.
(d) 7 weeks.

5. In "Smile, Beautiful," whose life history inspires Sedaris's offer to the fan he meets at his Reno book signing?
(a) Gretchen's.
(b) Amy's.
(c) Lisa's.
(d) Hugh's.

6. In "Fresh-Caught Haddock," what concern does Sedaris express about the looting in New York?
(a) Black businesses will be disproportionately targeted.
(b) Protesters will face police violence.
(c) His favorite stores will be looted.
(d) Owners will raise prices to cover their losses.

7. In "A Better Place," what is Sedaris's response to the idea that his father will always be with him?
(a) His father is not some kind of eternal stalker.
(b) His father was never with him in life.
(c) He does not want his father to be with him.
(d) He will make an effort to swear less, in that case.

8. In "A Better Place," what feature of the restaurant does Sedaris repeatedly complain about?
(a) The service.
(b) The food.
(c) The prices.
(d) The atmosphere.

9. In "Pearls," what is "Luigi's"?
(a) An imaginary dry cleaner's shop.
(b) Hugh and Sedaris's upstairs apartment.
(c) Hugh and Sedaris's favorite restaurant.
(d) The depressing neighborhood supermarket.

10. In "Lucky-Go-Happy," when is Sedaris finally able to go back to touring?
(a) Fall of 2021.
(b) Spring of 2022.
(c) Spring of 2021.
(d) Fall of 2020.

11. In "Pearls," what does Sedaris tell the woman in Sussex about Hugh?
(a) He is 20 years old.
(b) He is a right-to-life advocate.
(c) He is blind.
(d) He is an astrologer.

12. In "Pearls," what instrument does Hugh take up?
(a) Violin.
(b) Guitar.
(c) Piano.
(d) Oboe.

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

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

15. On page 238 of "Pussytoes," how does Sedaris say people refer to "a massively difficult person" once they get old?
(a) "Cantankerous."
(b) "A character."
(c) "A curmudgeon."
(d) "Crotchety."

Short Answer Questions

1. In "The Vacuum," where is Sedaris when he sees the first signs that the new virus is starting to change things?

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

3. In "Lady Marmalade," what did Lou want to show the family when he unbuttoned Lisa's shirt at dinner?

4. In "Lucky-Go-Happy," what does Sedaris see on the floor at Charlotte Douglas International Airport?

5. In "Lucky-Go-Happy," what does Sedaris find disappointing about his Zoom event?

(see the answer keys)

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