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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

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

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

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

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

5. What does Bryson comment on as being a strange development in the world of exercise?
(a) Driving one's car to the gym
(b) That it is a multi-million dollar industry.
(c) Actually paying large amounts to join a gym.
(d) Retired people meeting at malls to have their daily walk.

Short Answer Questions

1. According to Bryson, what did people in the past do when they flew?

2. Why does Bryson say he never ultimately drove the rental car he needed at the Boston airport?

3. Bryson and his wife see their son off to a university. Where is the university?

4. How many "new" consumer products does Bryson say are launched every year in the United States?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. In "Deck the Halls," Bryson tells his readers that he is not looking forward to Christmas decorating. Why is this?

2. "Your Tax Form Explained", what does Bryson satirize? Give three examples of how he does this.

3. In "Life's Mysteries," Bryson lists a very large number of things that he doesn't understand. What are four of these things?

4. In "Enough Already," Bryson says there is just too much of everything in America (except time, money, good plumbers, and polite people). What examples does he give to back this up? Why does he think it is not a good thing?

5. In "Hail to the Chief," Bryson looks at the American holiday of Presidents Day. Give three points about the day that Bryson mentions.

6. "Highway Diversions" is Bryson's look at highway travel, which he says is very dull. How does he compare modern highway travel to the highway travel of his youth?

7. In "The Flying Nightmare," Bryson compares modern air travel with air travel from his youth in the 1960s and 70s. List three points he makes.

8. Bryson looks at obesity in "The Fat of the Land." Name three statistics he mentions in relation to obesity.

9. "The Myteries of Christmas" compares American Christmases and English Christmases. How does Bryson compare the two holidays?

10. "The Best American Holiday," Bryson explains why he loves Thanksgiving so much. List three things that he enthuses about the holiday.

(see the answer keys)

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