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

Multiple Choice Questions

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

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

3. According to Bryson, what makes up for the long New England winters?
(a) They are stunningly pretty.
(b) Playing board games with his kids.
(c) Going south for a month.
(d) The roaring fire in his study.

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

5. What does Bryson say about the New England summers?
(a) They are boring.
(b) They are too hot.
(c) They are short.
(d) They are dull and rainy.

6. What does Bryson do in the section called "Life's Mysteries"?
(a) Asks questions about things he doesn't understand.
(b) Wonders why the English act the way they do.
(c) Answers questions about things most people don't understand.
(d) Talks about unsolved murder cases in New Hampshire.

7. Bryson says there are three types of stores. The first is where you cannot get anyone to help you, and the second is full of clerks who will not leave you alone. What does he say about the third type?
(a) When you ask about something, the clerk has to ask the manager, who is never around.
(b) No matter what you ask about, they say it's in "aisle seven."
(c) The clerks spend all their time talking to each other.
(d) All the clerks have just started working there and do not know a thing.

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

9. Why was Bryson unhappy about a flight he and his family took from Minneapolis?
(a) They didn't get fed for six hours.
(b) They couldn't take their cat with them.
(c) The family was scattered all over the plane.
(d) The flight attendants couldn't understand Mrs. Bryson's English.

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

11. In "Drowning in Red Tape," what is Bryson frustrated about acquiring for his wife?
(a) A library card.
(b) Legal status in America.
(c) The right to work in the US.
(d) Health insurance.

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

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

14. In "Enough Already," which item comes in 18 varieties in American supermarkets?
(a) Veggie burgers.
(b) Milk.
(c) Gum removal spray.
(d) Incontinence diapers.

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

Short Answer Questions

1. In "Highway Diversions," how does Bryson like to pass the time when he is driving on the highway?

2. According to Bryson, when was the first official Thanksgiving held in the United States?

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

4. As Bryson was writing, which American President was suing the government for loss of earnings?

5. What is Bryson's opinion about most American lawyers, according to "So Sue Me"?

(see the answer keys)

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