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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Why does Bill feel going to a restaurant is a discouraging experience?
(a) He's a vegan.
(b) He's a picky eater.
(c) He manages to antagonize the waitress.
(d) He hates the high prices.

2. What did the town of Laconia, New Hampshire, have to do about its new sidewalks and benches in its town center?
(a) Refit them for use in a movie.
(b) Refit them for handicapped residents.
(c) Remove them because no one was using them.
(d) Sanitize them.

3. In "The Risk Factor," what does Bryson say an American is twice as likely to do as a British person?
(a) Die of cancer.
(b) Die in childbirth.
(c) Die accidentally.
(d) Die is hospital.

4. What trait does Bill admit that he has in regards to simple everyday activities?
(a) He is perfect at everything he does.
(b) He is clumsy.
(c) He is absentminded.
(d) He never forgets anything.

5. According to Bill, which offense do the British commit that he takes offense to?
(a) Sloppy parking.
(b) Being rude.
(c) Not lining up for service.
(d) Charging to use public bathrooms.

6. What does Bill say is a big improvement in America concerning business phone numbers?
(a) Business calls cannot be made into people's homes.
(b) They are preprogrammed on everyone's phone.
(c) The 1-800 numbers are easy to remember.
(d) They are only four-digits.

7. How does Bill know so much about motels?
(a) He is reading a book called "The Motel in America."
(b) He used to own one.
(c) He belongs to a motel club.
(d) He has stayed at thousands.

8. What part of the house does Bill regard as delightful and pretty much the same in every American household?
(a) The family room.
(b) The attic.
(c) The laundry room.
(d) The basement.

9. What does Bryson find amazing about the geography of the United States?
(a) That so much of the country is empty of people.
(b) That there is very little variety.
(c) That the United States has no Arctic region.
(d) That it is smaller than Canada.

10. What does Bill say is a new shopping experience for him on his return to America?
(a) Money-back guarantees.
(b) Shopping insurance.
(c) Outlet malls.
(d) Personal service.

11. What does Bill miss about television in Britain?
(a) No commercials.
(b) A late night university program with free courses.
(c) A lot of good comedy shows.
(d) Good news programs.

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

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

14. What does Bill say is ridiculous about a VCR?
(a) It has no remote.
(b) It can record twelve months in advance.
(c) It costs so much.
(d) It is being replaced by a DVD player.

15. How do 40,000 Americans die a year, according to Bryson?
(a) By falling under trains.
(b) By accidents on construction sites.
(c) By gunshot wounds.
(d) By contracting hepatitis.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why doesn't Bryson like gardening with his wife?

2. What does Bill find in the bottom of his refrigerator, a left over from his junk-food shopping with his wife?

3. Bryson finds summer blockbuster movies annoying, but what does he have a real problem with?

4. Why does Bryson have an issue with the Internet?

5. What does Bill end up doing with all the food he buys at the supermarket?

(see the answer keys)

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