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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. When Bryson takes his family to one of the last drive-ins in the area, what is the experience like?
(a) Not fun at all.
(b) The kids hated it, the adults loved it.
(c) The audio had improved greatly since the 1970s.
(d) It was amazing.

2. What does Bryson say about New England in "Fall in New England"?
(a) He's glad the kids are back in school.
(b) The weather is too cold.
(c) There are too many bugs.
(d) For a couple of weeks, the colors are amazing.

3. In "Highway Diversions," how does Bryson like to pass the time when he is driving on the highway?
(a) By reading the slogans on license plates.
(b) By making up songs about the towns they pass.
(c) By counting the red cars.
(d) By yelling at other drivers.

4. What does Bryson say about computer energy consumption at the beginning of "The Waste Generation"?
(a) That computer use should be restricted to a few hours a day.
(b) That a lot of energy is consumed by computers left on at night.
(c) That computer manufacturers could fix the high consumption very easily.
(d) That computer users need to be educated.

5. In "The Waste Generation," what does Bryson think is getting worse in the United States, compared to his youth?
(a) Poverty.
(b) Crime.
(c) Pollution.
(d) Global warming.

6. According to Bryson, what problem does he have with relating to New Englanders?
(a) They love winter and winter sports.
(b) They never want any "alone time."
(c) They don't trust people who read books.
(d) They never watch television.

7. What surprising statistic does Bryson share about the number of lawyers in America?
(a) There is 1 lawyer for every 1,000,000 people.
(b) There is 1 lawyer for every 1,000 people.
(c) There are more of them in the United States than the rest of the world put together.
(d) There is a shortage of them.

8. Why does Bryson have to buy a whole new computer and fax system when he returns to the United States?
(a) The British have a different electrical system.
(b) He'd never owned a computer but now needed one for work.
(c) His kids were tired of using the family's 1980s model.
(d) All his electronics got lost on the way.

9. What does Bryson say the reason might be for being bewildered with modern television?
(a) He cannot follow the plot lines of the cop shows.
(b) In the America of his youth, and in England, there were only 4 channels.
(c) His kids like to watch a lot of shows that are just junk.
(d) His eyesight and hearing are failing.

10. What does Bryson say Americans are very resistant to in the field of energy?
(a) Raising the price of gasoline even slightly.
(b) Finding alternative sources of energy.
(c) Driving smaller cars.
(d) Using less gasoline.

11. What does Bryson fondly remember about highway travel when he was a boy?
(a) The lack of transport trucks.
(b) The scenery.
(c) The billboards.
(d) The rest stops.

12. What was the "Millennium Bug" about, in regards to computers?
(a) No royalties would be paid to computer developers after that date.
(b) It was an extremely destructive virus.
(c) At midnight on January 1, 2000 all computers might shut down.
(d) It was a new very tiny computer.

13. What house feature does Bryson miss from his childhood?
(a) The spare bedroom.
(b) The back shed.
(c) The screened porch.
(d) The out house.

14. How many "new" consumer products does Bryson say are launched every year in the United States?
(a) 2,000.
(b) 25,000.
(c) 2 million.
(d) 250,000.

15. In "The Flying Nightmare," what job does Bryson say his father had?
(a) A salesman.
(b) A pilot.
(c) A singer.
(d) A sportswriter.

Short Answer Questions

1. What was Bryson disappointed about on his book tours?

2. What does Bryson say about the long trip and back to take his son to college?

3. What does Bryson do in the section called "Life's Mysteries"?

4. In "The Best American Holiday," what does Bryson say about his mother?

5. What does Bryson say about the New England summers?

(see the answer keys)

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