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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. How many "new" consumer products does Bryson say are launched every year in the United States?
(a) 2,000.
(b) 25,000.
(c) 2 million.
(d) 250,000.

2. 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 computer use should be restricted to a few hours a day.
(d) That a lot of energy is consumed by computers left on at night.

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

4. What does Bryson fondly remember about highway travel when he was a boy?
(a) The scenery.
(b) The billboards.
(c) The lack of transport trucks.
(d) The rest stops.

5. What does Bryson say about the long trip and back to take his son to college?
(a) Travelling by car is one of his favorite things.
(b) Travelling on American highways is dull.
(c) It was sad.
(d) It was quick.

Short Answer Questions

1. What word associated with Christmas does Bryson wonder about at the beginning of "The Mysteries of Christmas"?

2. When Bryson takes his family to one of the last drive-ins in the area, what is the experience like?

3. What is Bryson astonished to find on his plane on a flight from Boston to Denver?

4. What does Bryson say Americans are very resistant to in the field of energy?

5. What does Bryson do in the section called "Life's Mysteries"?

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. "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?

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

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

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

6. "Book Tours", Bryson talks about his fondness for book tours. Why does he like them?

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

8. 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?

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

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

(see the answer keys)

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