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

Multiple Choice Questions

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

2. Where does Mrs. Bryson like to go in the summer that Bill can definitely live without?
(a) The mountains.
(b) The seaside.
(c) Back home to England.
(d) To Connecticut.

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

4. What is Bryson's observations on the conveniences of life in America in the 1990s?
(a) They need to be banned.
(b) He wishes England had more conveniences.
(c) They are the best improvement he came home to.
(d) They are not necessarily better, but people think they are.

5. How much energy does Bryson say the average American uses compared to the average European?
(a) Just slightly more.
(b) Three times as much.
(c) Twice as much.
(d) Half as much.

6. Which American tourist attraction does Bryson describe as a "Total Indoor Environment"?
(a) Las Vegas.
(b) Yellowstone Park.
(c) Disney World.
(d) Opryland.

7. According to Bryson, what did people in the past do when they flew?
(a) Got sick a lot.
(b) Dressed up for it.
(c) Bought insurance for every flight.
(d) Ate and drank through the whole flight.

8. Which American business name mystifies Bryson?
(a) IHOP.
(b) Burger King.
(c) Toys R Us.
(d) Dunkin' Donuts.

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

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

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

12. In "A Slight Inconvenience," what does Bryson say about drive-through windows in restaurants?
(a) They save people a lot of time.
(b) They are inefficient.
(c) That people will spend more time in line than if they went in.
(d) They are unsanitary.

13. What is the main point Bryson is making in "Your Tax Form Explained"?
(a) That it is very confusing.
(b) Paying taxes is unavoidable.
(c) No one should try to fill out a tax return.
(d) It is easy to understand.

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

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

Short Answer Questions

1. According to Bryson, what makes up for the long New England winters?

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

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

4. What does Mrs. Bryson tell her husband about Maggie that cheers him up?

5. What February holiday does Bryson say is new to him on his return to the United States?

(see the answer keys)

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