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

2. What did Bryson's parents give him for Christmas when he was eight?
(a) A doll.
(b) Skis.
(c) A chemistry set.
(d) Skates.

3. 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.

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

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

Short Answer Questions

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

2. How was the first "drive-in" movie shown in New Jersey in the 1930's?

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

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

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

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. In "A Day at the Seaside," what does Mrs. Bryson suggest the family do? How does Bill react to this?

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

5. In "In Praise of Diners," Bryson talks about an old American institution that has almost disappeared, the diner restaurant. List at least three things he tells the readers about diners.

6. In "On Losing a Son," what does Bryson say his main activities are as a father sending his son off to college?

7. "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?

8. In "Shopping Madness," Bryson says there is a discipline called "retail anthropology." What is it ? What are some of the things it studies?

9. In "So Sue Me," what does Bryson say about American lawyers?

10. 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.

(see the answer keys)

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