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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 say that all New Englanders do?
(a) Gamble.
(b) Get up early.
(c) Talk a lot.
(d) Smoke.

2. According to Bryson, which man from his childhood state deserves more credit in American history?
(a) Adlai Stevenson.
(b) Washington Carver.
(c) Herbert Hoover.
(d) Mark Twain.

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

4. Why does Bryson say he never ultimately drove the rental car he needed at the Boston airport?
(a) He would not buy insurance.
(b) A friend gave him a lift instead.
(c) He did not have a valid driver's license.
(d) He could not find it.

5. In "The War on Drugs," what is wrong, according to Bryson, about the penalties for drug possession?
(a) He thinks the penalties for drug possession are too harsh.
(b) He thinks the penalties should be harsher.
(c) He thinks the laws favor the rich.
(d) He thinks the laws favor the poor.

Short Answer Questions

1. Bill says the GDP is very hard to measure in modern times. What does GDP stand for?

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

3. In "Lost at the Movies," which Jurassic Park movie did Bryson take his children to see?

4. Bill is amazed that thousands of Americans end up in the emergency rooms every year from using certain things. What are they?

5. What does Bryson hate about Christmas?

(see the answer key)

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