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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Ah, Summer!, A Day at the Seaside, On Losing a Son, Highway Diversions, Fall in New England, The Best American Holiday, Deck the Halls, Fun in the Snow, The Mysteries of Christmas, Life in a Cold Climate.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. According to Bryson in "Why No One Walks," how far does the average American walk in a day?
(a) About a mile.
(b) About 350 yards.
(c) About two miles.
(d) About half a mile.

2. What does Bill discuss at the beginning of his essay on design flaws?
(a) His son's jeans.
(b) His daughter's jewelry.
(c) His son's running shoes.
(d) His wife's clothing.

3. In "On Losing a Son," why does Bryson decide to play baseball with his youngest child?
(a) He thinks the boy has a chance to be professional.
(b) He realizes the little boy is growing up.
(c) He is tired of working on his writing.
(d) He wants him to learn an American sport.

4. In regards to his son's university education, what is Bryson so shocked about?
(a) How heavy the workload is for undergraduates.
(b) How easy it is to get in.
(c) The cost of it.
(d) That his son would live in a co-ed dorm.

5. Why doesn't Bryson like gardening with his wife?
(a) She is English and thus an expert gardener.
(b) She screams if she sees any insects.
(c) She expects him to garden for hours at a time.
(d) He has to do all the work.

Short Answer Questions

1. How did Bryson describe his first run on a snowmobile?

2. According to Bryson, when was the first official Thanksgiving held in the United States?

3. Why does Bill prefer the post offices in the U.S. to the ones in Britain?

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

5. In "Consuming Pleasures," what does Bill say about shopping in America?

(see the answer key)

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