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

Multiple Choice Questions

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

2. 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) The 1-800 numbers are easy to remember.
(c) They are only four-digits.
(d) They are preprogrammed on everyone's phone.

3. What does Bryson think is sad about how things are changing in modern Vermont?
(a) More people now are born outside the state.
(b) The weather is warming up.
(c) Pollution is increasing.
(d) There are too many Canadians there.

4. What does Bill find to be a difficult adjustment for him when he returns to the U.S.?
(a) He cannot find what he wants in the stores.
(b) He left as a young man and came back middle-aged.
(c) He finds it very noisy.
(d) He has forgotten American English.

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

6. Bryson says that 94% of Americans' trips from home involve the use of something in particular. What is that item?
(a) A credit card.
(b) A snack.
(c) A car.
(d) A cell phone.

7. What does Bill say it would take over 31,000 years to do?
(a) Pay off the national debt.
(b) Count a trillion dollars.
(c) Make the tax system fair.
(d) Travel to Mars and back.

8. What American kitchen convenience does Bill think is just wonderful?
(a) The microwave.
(b) The garbage disposal.
(c) The dishwasher.
(d) The blender.

9. What is one way Bryson says New Hampshire residents might die that would not happen in Britain?
(a) Crashing their car into a moose.
(b) Getting swine flu.
(c) Flying their own plane.
(d) Swimming in the ocean.

10. In "How to Have Fun at Home," why does Bill think having your groceries bagged for you is not so great?
(a) He has to tip the bagger.
(b) It makes him feel lazy.
(c) It doesn't buy him any quality time.
(d) He has to make conversation with the bagger.

11. After living in Britain for twenty years, what does Bill find refreshingly different about the United States?
(a) The fashions.
(b) The weather.
(c) The government.
(d) The informality.

12. According to Bill, what is the outstanding quality of Americans?
(a) Their ambition.
(b) Their business sense.
(c) Their sense of humor.
(d) Their friendliness.

13. How much does Bryson say the government spends on fighting drugs?
(a) $10 billion a year.
(b) $50 billion a year.
(c) $500 million a year.
(d) $1 billion dollars a year.

14. What does Bryson call the expression his wife wears when she is ready for serious gardening?
(a) Her Gatorade expression.
(b) Her Nike expression.
(c) Her Adidas expression.
(d) Her Pepsi expression.

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What part of the house does Bill regard as delightful and pretty much the same in every American household?

2. What is one complaint Bryson has about the small towns around him?

3. What does Bill say that he has to remember about going into restaurants?

4. Why does Bill prefer the post offices in the U.S. to the ones in Britain?

5. In the twenty years since Bryson left the United States, by how much have car numbers, roads, and mileage increased?

(see the answer keys)

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