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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. 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) Cars.
(d) Snow blowers.

2. 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.

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

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

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

6. Why does Bryson have an issue with the Internet?
(a) It's unreliable.
(b) It's expensive.
(c) People can glean personal information about others.
(d) It's making people anti-social.

7. What does Bryson say about American gardens?
(a) They are mostly weeds.
(b) They are mostly lawn.
(c) They are mostly roses.
(d) They are mostly bushes.

8. What British sport does Bill find dull but restful?
(a) Rounders.
(b) Polo.
(c) Soccer.
(d) Cricket.

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

10. 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 laundry room.
(c) The attic.
(d) The basement.

11. According to Bryson, why did a store in Michigan win a case brought against them by a customer?
(a) The customer had a history of suing every business in town.
(b) The store had a right to hire armed guards
(c) The store had a right to protect itself from shoplifting
(d) It had a really good lawyer.

12. In "Wide-Open Spaces," according to Bryson, who was an idiot?
(a) Grover Cleveland.
(b) Daniel Boone.
(c) Monty Hall.
(d) Samuel de Champlain.

13. Where do Bill and his wife go to celebrate their anniversary?
(a) To a spa in Connecticut.
(b) To a ski resort in Quebec.
(c) To a fancy restaurant in Vermont.
(d) To an expensive inn in Massachusetts.

14. 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.

15. What do U.S. post offices do once a year that Bill likes a lot?
(a) Give out door prizes.
(b) Give customers free donuts, pastries, and coffee.
(c) Give customers free stamps.
(d) Have a charity softball game.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why did Bill decide to write "Friendly People?"

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

3. What does Bill say it would take over 31,000 years to do?

4. In "The War on Drugs," what is wrong, according to Bryson, about the penalties for drug possession?

5. Why does Bryson think the cupholder revolution is a bit strange?

(see the answer keys)

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