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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 finally inspires Sedaris to get his teeth fixed?
(a) The story that the thrift store clerk tells him.
(b) Hugh's gentle encouragement and Amy's open teasing.
(c) The experience of wearing a mask in the pandemic.
(d) The pain he begins to feel when chewing.

2. In "Lucky-Go-Happy," how does one of Sedaris's fans tell him her pet hamster died?
(a) It was eaten by her pet snake.
(b) It was sucked into a vacuum.
(c) Her father shot it.
(d) It had a heart attack.

3. In "Pussytoes," what does Lou tell the president of Princeton University?
(a) Gretchen is a better artist than Sedaris.
(b) Amy is a better speaker than Sedaris.
(c) He finds it hard to believe the graduates will know who Sedaris is.
(d) There is no way Sedaris could have gotten into Princeton.

4. In "Lady Marmalade," what is the name of the reform school that Tiffany was sent to?
(a) Running Springs School.
(b) The Oakley School.
(c) Provo Canyon School.
(d) The Élan School.

5. In "Lady Marmalade," what did Lou suggest Sedaris's childhood stomach pains were caused by?
(a) Their mother's cooking.
(b) A desire for attention.
(c) Hemorrhoids.
(d) A desire to get out of school.

6. In "Lady Marmalade," what new role does Lou take on once all of his children have moved out?
(a) Accountant.
(b) Neighborhood watch.
(c) Photographer.
(d) Landlord.

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

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

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

10. In "Lady Marmalade," what incident causes Lou's attitude toward Gretchen to change?
(a) She moves out when she is only seventeen.
(b) He finds marijuana in her bedroom.
(c) She accuses him of inappropriate behavior.
(d) He discovers her having sex with her boyfriend.

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

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

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

14. In "A Better Place," what specific rhetorical technique does Sedaris complain about?
(a) Hyperbole.
(b) Euphemism.
(c) Understatement.
(d) Oxymoron.

15. In "A Better Place," what is Sedaris implying when he comments about the long lives of Dick Cheney, Henry Kissinger, and Rupert Murdoch?
(a) They are bad people.
(b) They are very religious.
(c) They have worked hard.
(d) They are wealthy.

Short Answer Questions

1. In "Pussytoes," what does Sedaris say he wants for his own casket, someday?

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

3. Where does the title "Pussytoes" come from?

4. According to "Lady Marmalade," what was unusual about the way Lou usually dressed at home?

5. In "Fresh-Caught Haddock," what is Amy's implied motivation for wanting to take a trip to Emerald Isle?

(see the answer keys)

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