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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. In "How to Rent a Car," what does Bryson find especially frustrating about the process?
(a) How and where to drop it off.
(b) The limits on passengers.
(c) The mileage charges.
(d) The options he is offered.

2. Bryson and his wife see their son off to a university. Where is the university?
(a) California.
(b) Ohio.
(c) North Carolina.
(d) Canada.

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

4. 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) All the clerks have just started working there and do not know a thing.
(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) When you ask about something, the clerk has to ask the manager, who is never around.

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

Short Answer Questions

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

2. According to Bryson, what is the result of the "abundance of choice" in America?

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

4. What do the British celebrate on December 26th?

5. Bryson compares modern airplanes to _______________.

Short Essay Questions

1. 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.

2. In "The Wasteland," what is Bryson criticizing? Name three points of his criticism.

3. What does Bryson tell the reader about drive-in movies in "At the Drive-In"?

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

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

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

7. Bryson titled "The Waste Generation". Give three examples of why he thinks the generation of Americans in the 1990s is a wasteful one.

8. "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?

9. Bryson explains the joys of living in a snowy climate in "Fun in the Snow." How does he give the reader the impression that he is not a natural athlete?

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

(see the answer keys)

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