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

Multiple Choice Questions

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

2. In "Happy-Go-Lucky," what reason does Lou give for the priest disliking him?
(a) He no longer believes in God.
(b) He uses language that the priest finds vulgar.
(c) He has not been to church in twenty years.
(d) He does not give enough money to the church.

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

4. In "Smile, Beautiful," what example of prejudice related to the appearance of his teeth does Sedaris give?
(a) People often make unsolicited comments about his teeth when he is out walking in New York.
(b) Employees in upscale hotels and boutiques do not seem to think he is wealthy enough to be a patron.
(c) Magazine photographers generally ask him to keep his mouth closed during publicity shoots.
(d) Other patrons sometimes move tables in restaurants so that they are not sitting where they can see him eating.

5. In "The Vacuum," what task does Sedaris find himself performing for other shoppers?
(a) Locating stock.
(b) Bagging groceries.
(c) Opening the door.
(d) Sanitizing sales terminals.

6. In "Happy-Go-Lucky," what does Amy catch Sedaris doing at his father's funeral?
(a) Making notes.
(b) Crying.
(c) Looking at his phone.
(d) Hiding a laugh.

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

8. In "The Vacuum," where is Sedaris when he sees the first signs that the new virus is starting to change things?
(a) North Carolina.
(b) Eastern Europe.
(c) South America.
(d) France.

9. In "Fresh-Caught Haddock," what does the young woman in Union Square try to give Sedaris?
(a) A bandana.
(b) A bottle of water.
(c) Spray paint.
(d) A protest sign.

10. In "The Vacuum," what does Sedaris buy at the gourmet store Eataly that he later feels he has to defend to Hugh?
(a) Fruit cocktail.
(b) Chocolate milk.
(c) Pasta.
(d) Hot dogs.

11. In "Happy-Go-Lucky," how old does Lou claim to be?
(a) 100.
(b) 90.
(c) 21.
(d) 10.

12. In "Lucky-Go-Happy," why does Sedaris spend months thinking about a show he did in Vancouver?
(a) The box office attendant is very rude to Sedaris.
(b) A man carrying a gun is stopped at the theater door.
(c) A celebrity that Sedaris has seen on television attends this performance.
(d) It is the last show before the pandemic temporarily halts his touring.

13. In the opening of "Fresh-Caught Haddock," whose death does Sedaris mention?
(a) George Floyd.
(b) Breonna Taylor.
(c) Andre Hill.
(d) Duante Wright.

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

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

Short Answer Questions

1. In "Lady Marmalade," what does Sedaris recall doing to Tiffany when he was about ten and she was about four years old?

2. In "Happy-Go-Lucky," how does Sedaris characterize continuing media coverage of the Covid pandemic?

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

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

5. In "Pearls," what does Amy's acupuncturist tell her is the source of her trauma?

(see the answer keys)

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