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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In regards to his son's university education, what is Bryson so shocked about?
(a) How heavy the workload is for undergraduates.
(b) How easy it is to get in.
(c) That his son would live in a co-ed dorm.
(d) The cost of it.

2. What is Bryson astonished to find on his plane on a flight from Boston to Denver?
(a) Am armed guard.
(b) An inflated dinghy.
(c) An entire hockey team.
(d) A chimpanzee.

3. When Bryson had his first book published, what did his publisher send him to?
(a) A speech coach to get rid of his accent.
(b) A resort to recover from his first book tour.
(c) The largest book store in New York for a book signing.
(d) A course in media training.

4. As Bryson was writing, which American President was suing the government for loss of earnings?
(a) Bill Clinton.
(b) Richard Nixon.
(c) Jimmy Carter.
(d) George W. Bush.

5. What does Bryson mean by the "wasteland"?
(a) News programming.
(b) Canadian comedy shows.
(c) Commercials.
(d) The huge variety of television programs available.

6. Why does Bryson say he never ultimately drove the rental car he needed at the Boston airport?
(a) He would not buy insurance.
(b) He could not find it.
(c) A friend gave him a lift instead.
(d) He did not have a valid driver's license.

7. In "The Great Indoors," what does Bryson say people in America have developed a dislike of?
(a) Law and order.
(b) Multi-grain bread.
(c) Fresh air.
(d) Coffee.

8. How did Bryson describe his first run on a snowmobile?
(a) As a waking nightmare.
(b) As awesome.
(c) As a jolly good time.
(d) As too slow for him.

9. What is Bryson's opinion of book tours?
(a) They are kind of fun.
(b) They are a waste of time.
(c) They are boring.
(d) They are very educational.

10. What do New Englanders call the tourists who come to New England in the fall?
(a) Tree crazies.
(b) Tree huggers.
(c) Leaf peepers.
(d) Leaf lovers.

11. What is Bryson satirizing in "Your New Computer"?
(a) Computer stores.
(b) Bill Gates.
(c) Computer salespeople.
(d) Computer manuals.

12. According to Bryson, what is the result of the "abundance of choice" in America?
(a) A lot of time wasted.
(b) A lot of rich business owners.
(c) A simple way of life.
(d) A lot of happy people.

13. What movie is Bryson describing at the beginning of "The Wasteland"?
(a) Magnificent Obsession.
(b) The Brady Bunch.
(c) Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.
(d) Avatar.

14. What do the British celebrate on December 26th?
(a) St. Paul's Day.
(b) Little Christmas.
(c) Epiphany.
(d) Boxing Day.

15. What does Bryson like to do when he picks up his mail on winter mornings?
(a) Give his snowblower a work out.
(b) Walk his dog.
(c) Test his tolerance for the cold.
(d) Take a thermos of hot tea with him.

Short Answer Questions

1. In "Enough Already," which item comes in 18 varieties in American supermarkets?

2. Bryson compares modern airplanes to _______________.

3. What does Bryson fondly remember about highway travel when he was a boy?

4. When looking for a place to live in the United States, what was the only thing Bryson liked about Adams, Massachusetts?

5. What does Bryson hate about Christmas?

(see the answer keys)

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