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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. What word associated with Christmas does Bryson wonder about at the beginning of "The Mysteries of Christmas"?
(a) Yule.
(b) Noel.
(c) Merry.
(d) A-wassailing.

2. Although the GDP is seen as a positive in economic terms, how does Bill say it can be negative?
(a) Production can cause pollution.
(b) Some of it has to go to other countries.
(c) It is just too confusing.
(d) It does not help the poor.

3. What does Bill like about having a college as part of he town he lives in?
(a) It keeps the taxes down.
(b) He and his family can use their facilities.
(c) His kids can go there for free.
(d) It has snob appeal.

4. Where does Mrs. Bryson like to go in the summer that Bill can definitely live without?
(a) The seaside.
(b) Back home to England.
(c) To Connecticut.
(d) The mountains.

5. Bryson and his wife see their son off to a university. Where is the university?
(a) North Carolina.
(b) California.
(c) Canada.
(d) Ohio.

Short Answer Questions

1. In "The Risk Factor," what does Bryson say an American is twice as likely to do as a British person?

2. What did the town of Laconia, New Hampshire, have to do about its new sidewalks and benches in its town center?

3. How do 40,000 Americans die a year, according to Bryson?

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

5. What does Bryson think is sad about how things are changing in modern Vermont?

(see the answer key)

This section contains 319 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample