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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In "Lucky-Go-Happy," what nickname does Sedaris say he has given Hugh?
(a) Reverend Gentility.
(b) Viscount Fussybritches.
(c) Congressman Prude.
(d) Admiral Anguish.

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

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

4. In "A Better Place," what objection does Sedaris make to people saying that his father did his best?
(a) Results matter as much as intentions.
(b) His father was neglectful and uninterested.
(c) Very few people actually do their best.
(d) His father was an abusive alcoholic.

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

Short Answer Questions

1. In "Lady Marmalade," what incident causes Lou's attitude toward Gretchen to change?

2. In "Pearls," what is "Luigi's"?

3. In "Lady Marmalade," what does Sedaris imply that Tiffany stole from her siblings?

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

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

Short Essay Questions

1. In "Smile, Beautiful," what two reasons does Sedaris mention for his surprise when the man on the street tells the woman to smile?

2. In "Pussytoes," what is Sedaris's reaction to his father's "Little Black Book"?

3. In "Lady Marmalade," what reasons do the Sedaris siblings have for being skeptical of Tiffany's claims that Lou sexually abused her?

4. In "The Vacuum," what activities does Sedaris describe filling his days with while he is waiting until he can go out and walk at night?

5. In "Happy-Go-Lucky," what do the changes in Lou suggest to Sedaris might be true in his own life?

6. What literal and figurative meanings does Sedaris convey with the title "Pearls"?

7. In "A Better Place," what is Sedaris's response to the idea that his father "did his best" (193)?

8. In "Lady Marmalade," what anecdote does Sedaris share about his father's photography and his sister Lisa?

9. When describing protests in "Fresh-Caught Haddock," what two examples of White participants' vandalism does Sedaris give, and how do Black bystanders react?

10. In "Lucky-Go-Happy," what does Sedaris start asking all of the teenagers at his readings, and what is his reaction to the responses he gets?

(see the answer keys)

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