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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through The Great Indoors, Death Watch, In Praise of Diners, Shopping Madness, The Fat of the Land, Your New Computer, How to Rent a Car, The Wasteland, The Flying Nightmare and Enough Already.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Bryson comment on as being a strange development in the world of exercise?
(a) That it is a multi-million dollar industry.
(b) Actually paying large amounts to join a gym.
(c) Retired people meeting at malls to have their daily walk.
(d) Driving one's car to the gym

2. In "The Best American Holiday," what does Bryson say about his mother?
(a) She was a great cook.
(b) Once a year, for Thanksgiving, she'd make a great meal.
(c) She tried, but the Thanksgiving meal was always a failure.
(d) She had Thanksgiving catered.

3. What does Bill find in the bottom of his refrigerator, a left over from his junk-food shopping with his wife?
(a) Lettuce.
(b) Breakfast pizza.
(c) Popsicles.
(d) Toaster tarts.

4. What does Bill say it would take over 31,000 years to do?
(a) Travel to Mars and back.
(b) Make the tax system fair.
(c) Pay off the national debt.
(d) Count a trillion dollars.

5. According to Bryson, what is lacking in his New Hampshire town?
(a) Intelligent people.
(b) Good entertainment.
(c) Crime.
(d) Pollution.

Short Answer Questions

1. In "Highway Diversions," how does Bryson like to pass the time when he is driving on the highway?

2. In "The Numbers Game," what does Bill say is beyond the comprehension of everyone?

3. What does Bill say is a strange feature of their car?

4. Although the GDP is seen as a positive in economic terms, how does Bill say it can be negative?

5. What does Bryson find the most "mind-numbing" feature of modern television?

(see the answer key)

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