View a FREE sample

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

Multiple Choice Questions

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

2. Bryson finds summer blockbuster movies annoying, but what does he have a real problem with?
(a) The behavior of children at the movie.
(b) The cost of popcorn.
(c) The cost of admission.
(d) The large cinema complexes.

3. What does Bill say that he has to remember about going into restaurants?
(a) You need to show identification.
(b) To wait to be seated.
(c) They don't sell alcoholic drinks in the local eateries.
(d) He has to remove his baseball cap.

4. In "Lost at the Movies," which Jurassic Park movie did Bryson take his children to see?
(a) Lost Innocence.
(b) Lost Appetites.
(c) Lost Dinosaurs.
(d) Lost World.

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

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

7. What mistake did Bill make that made him realize that he, along with many others, needs product guidance?
(a) He bought some tobacco and then put it in the mailbox.
(b) He injured himself with his letter opener.
(c) He left his bank card in the ATM.
(d) He put his shoes on the wrong feet.

8. What does Bill say about American sports teams that would never happen in Britain?
(a) The teams have cheerleaders.
(b) A team can move its franchise to a new city.
(c) The players are all polite.
(d) The players play for small salaries.

9. What product first reveals the popularity of toll-free hotline phone numbers to Bill?
(a) Toothpaste.
(b) Dental floss.
(c) Milk.
(d) Soda.

10. What does Bill end up doing with all the food he buys at the supermarket?
(a) He throws half of it out.
(b) He makes his kids eat it all.
(c) He eats his way through it and hates it.
(d) He eats his way through it and buys more.

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

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

13. What does Bill find strange about some U.S. commercials?
(a) They can be 5 minutes long.
(b) They have laugh tracks.
(c) They cannot show cigarettes.
(d) They advertise personal hygiene products.

14. Bill is amazed that thousands of Americans end up in the emergency rooms every year from using certain things. What are they?
(a) Common household items.
(b) Guns.
(c) Snow blowers.
(d) Cars.

15. How does Bryson begin "Tales of the North Woods?"
(a) He talks about using a snowmobile.
(b) He talks about the town that disappeared, and no one has found it.
(c) He talks about a college student who left a party and died in the woods.
(d) He talks about shoveling snow.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Bill like about having a college as part of he town he lives in?

2. What does Bill miss about television in Britain?

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

4. In "Junk-Food Heaven," according to Bill, what kind of food shopper is his wife?

5. In "Dying Accents," what is the name of the man who does carpentry around the Bryson house?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 698 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample