View a FREE sample

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

Multiple Choice Questions

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

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

3. In the twenty years since Bryson left the United States, by how much have car numbers, roads, and mileage increased?
(a) By 100%.
(b) By half.
(c) By two times.
(d) By 10%.

4. What does Bill hate about flying now that he is back in the U.S.?
(a) No meals are served.
(b) The snacks are terrible.
(c) The price of tickets.
(d) Having to show photo identification at the airport.

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

6. What does Bill say is a strange feature of their car?
(a) There is an indentation on the dashboard with no obvious use.
(b) It dispenses ice.
(c) The steering wheel is heated.
(d) It has no cup holders.

7. In "Dying Accents," what is the name of the man who does carpentry around the Bryson house?
(a) Darby.
(b) Walt.
(c) Bob.
(d) Darryl.

8. What event in America is starting up as Bill begins writing his columns for his British audience?
(a) The Stanley Cup Play-Offs.
(b) A Presidential Election Campaign.
(c) The World Series.
(d) The Summer Olympics.

9. Why did Bill decide to write "Friendly People?"
(a) Because he thought it would be funny.
(b) Because his editor wanted him to.
(c) Because his wife told him all he did was complain in his columns.
(d) Because he had to make good on a bet.

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

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

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

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

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

15. In "Consuming Pleasures," what does Bill say about shopping in America?
(a) It is a boring and tedious activity.
(b) There is underproduction of goods.
(c) Everything must be bought in person.
(d) You can buy almost anything.

Short Answer Questions

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

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

3. What do U.S. post offices do once a year that Bill likes a lot?

4. What does Bill Bryson like about his new home town?

5. What does Bill find to be a difficult adjustment for him when he returns to the U.S.?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 641 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample