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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 does Sedaris offer to pay for on behalf of the young man in the thrift shop?
(a) Dental work.
(b) College classes.
(c) A trip to Paris.
(d) A business wardrobe.

2. In "Fresh-Caught Haddock," what is Amy's implied motivation for wanting to take a trip to Emerald Isle?
(a) She feels unsafe in New York during the protests.
(b) She wants to get away from the pandemic response in New York.
(c) She misses her other siblings and wants to visit them.
(d) She is worried that they have not been to see Lou in several months.

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

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

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

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

7. In "Happy-Go-Lucky," how does Sedaris characterize continuing media coverage of the Covid pandemic?
(a) It is needlessly alarmist.
(b) It fails to deliver important information.
(c) It is unrealistically optimistic.
(d) It causes divisions among Americans.

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

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

10. In "Fresh-Caught Haddock," what objection does Sedaris raise to one of the protest chants?
(a) He worries that protesters are courting violence from the police.
(b) He thinks it is too long and complicated to be practical.
(c) He dislikes equating a sexual act with punishment.
(d) He does not believe in public swearing.

11. 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) There is something strange about people who refuse to take advantage of medical interventions to fix serious facial injuries.
(b) People can be proud of themselves and like their own appearance regardless of whether it is typical.
(c) People with serious facial injuries should be pleased to be able to hide their injuries behind a mask.
(d) The language used to describe atypical facial characteristics contributes to discrimination.

12. In "Fresh-Caught Haddock," why is wearing a mask at the protest a relief to Sedaris?
(a) He has grown paranoid about catching Covid.
(b) He does not have to monitor his own facial expressions.
(c) People cannot see that he is not chanting along.
(d) He worries about being recognized by the media.

13. In "Pussytoes," what does Sedaris say he wants for his own casket, someday?
(a) A casket shaped like a hardcover book.
(b) A publisher's shipping box.
(c) A pine box painted by Hugh.
(d) A gold casket lined with red satin.

14. In "Happy-Go-Lucky," what is Lou wearing when Sedaris, Amy, and Hugh go to visit him?
(a) A gold bracelet.
(b) A fishing hat.
(c) A red bandana.
(d) Running shoes.

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

Short Answer Questions

1. In "A Better Place," what is Sedaris implying when he comments about the long lives of Dick Cheney, Henry Kissinger, and Rupert Murdoch?

2. In "Smile, Beautiful," what does a woman at a book signing tell Sedaris that brings him close to tears?

3. In "Happy-Go-Lucky," what reason does Lou give for the priest disliking him?

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

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

(see the answer keys)

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