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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through “The American Exception” .

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Smith say “demanded a new dawn” (11)?
(a) Women.
(b) Disaster.
(c) Night.
(d) Americans.

2. Who did people “thank God for” (16) after the pandemic when, Smith says, they were not seen as worthy of a $15/ hour minimum wage prior to the pandemic?
(a) Bartenders.
(b) Teachers.
(c) Doctors.
(d) Essential Workers.

3. In “The American Exception,” Smith says that Americans attacked death as a series of what?
(a) Discrete problems.
(b) Bad decisions.
(c) Unfortunate events.
(d) Mysteries.

4. While looking on at the garden, Smith thinks of a quote by Nabokov regarding his inspiration for which novel?
(a) Glory.
(b) Mary.
(c) Lolita.
(d) Laura.

5. What image of “bored children” at home does Smith use in “The American Exception”?
(a) Crying from boredom.
(b) Staring zombie like at a screen.
(c) Twiddling their thumbs.
(d) Climbing the walls.

Short Answer Questions

1. What former British Prime Minister does Smith reference at the end of “The American Exception”?

2. What does Smith say the link to long life in America is?

3. What does Smith say a man can bend to his will?

4. In “The American Exception,” Smith says that the poorer countries Trump condemned did not have the foresight to be what?

5. What song does Smith reflect on how the lyrics would change if it were written for a man?

(see the answer key)

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