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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. Bryson says there are three types of stores. The first is where you cannot get anyone to help you, and the second is full of clerks who will not leave you alone. What does he say about the third type?
(a) All the clerks have just started working there and do not know a thing.
(b) No matter what you ask about, they say it's in "aisle seven."
(c) When you ask about something, the clerk has to ask the manager, who is never around.
(d) The clerks spend all their time talking to each other.

2. According to Bill, what product do Americans regard much differently than the British?
(a) Over-the-counter drugs.
(b) Clothing.
(c) Cars.
(d) Pet food.

3. Why does Bill prefer the post offices in the U.S. to the ones in Britain?
(a) The buildings are clean and new.
(b) The U.S. post offices only deal with mail.
(c) Each town has one.
(d) The U.S. postal charges are very low.

4. What does Bill say about the way people of the world eat?
(a) We eat a huge variety of things.
(b) Most people don't eat enough.
(c) Most people eat too much.
(d) There are thousands of foods but only a few are eaten a lot.

5. In "Room Service," what does Bill say the Motel Inn in California is famous for?
(a) Being built over buried treasure.
(b) Being the first to use the word "motel."
(c) Being used in a lot of movies.
(d) Being owned by Zorro.

Short Answer Questions

1. What event in America is starting up as Bill begins writing his columns for his British audience?

2. How much does Bryson say the government spends on fighting drugs?

3. How many "new" consumer products does Bryson say are launched every year in the United States?

4. What does Bill find strange about some U.S. commercials?

5. What is one activity that Bill is happy to return to in America?

(see the answer key)

This section contains 353 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample