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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In "The Vacuum," what does Sedaris's agent say will put sex workers out of business?
(a) Climate change.
(b) The pandemic.
(c) Internet pornography.
(d) Sex robots.

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 had a heart attack.
(c) Her father shot it.
(d) It was sucked into a vacuum.

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

4. In "Lucky-Go-Happy," why does the desk clerk at one hotel refuse to believe that the shirt Sedaris left behind belongs to him?
(a) It is in a size much larger than Sedaris would wear.
(b) The shirt has someone else's name sewn into it.
(c) Its style strikes the clerk as feminine.
(d) Sedaris cannot clearly describe it.

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

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

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

8. On page 151 of "The Vacuum," what phrase does Sedaris say he resents having survived the pandemic?
(a) "Have a blessed day."
(b) "No problem."
(c) "Howdy do."
(d) "Welcome in."

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

10. In "Lady Marmalade," what does Sedaris recall doing to Tiffany when he was about ten and she was about four years old?
(a) Threatening to choke her.
(b) Feeding her a worm.
(c) Hiding her stuffed rabbit.
(d) Poking her with pins.

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

12. Where does the title of the essay "Lady Marmalade" come from?
(a) A nickname that Sedaris gave his sister Tiffany because of her breakfast habits.
(b) A pen name that Amy used when she wrote short stories and plays in high school.
(c) A song that was popular when Sedaris's parents took him and Gretchen to New Orleans.
(d) A painting that Lou did of Lisa when she was a teenager.

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

14. 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 causes divisions among Americans.
(d) It is unrealistically optimistic.

15. In "Pussytoes," where do the siblings stay together on the night before Lou's funeral?
(a) A hotel.
(b) Lou's old house.
(c) Paul's house in Raleigh.
(d) Sea Section.

Short Answer Questions

1. In "Fresh-Caught Haddock," what does Bermey say caused him to lose sympathy for the Black Lives Matter movement?

2. In "Smile, Beautiful," what example of prejudice related to the appearance of his teeth does Sedaris give?

3. In "Pussytoes," which sibling ends up making the bulk of the arrangements after Lou's death?

4. In "A Better Place," what does Sedaris say is the subject of our greatest art?

5. In "A Better Place," what does Sedaris envy about the group at the table across the room?

(see the answer keys)

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