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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Smith says that despite America’s feelings of being untouchable, as the pandemic progressed, what did America appear to lead the world in?
(a) False positives.
(b) Vaccines.
(c) Deaths.
(d) Unity.

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

3. What is the title of the second essay in Zadie’s Smith’s collection, Intimations?
(a) The American Exception.
(b) Intimations.
(c) Peonies.
(d) Screengrabs.

4. What does Smith liken Trump’s speech to after coming to her senses after the first part of his speech?
(a) White lies.
(b) Snake oil.
(c) Poison.
(d) Rotten apples.

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

Short Answer Questions

1. At the end of “The American Exception,” what did Smith say states were forced to bid on during the pandemic?

2. In “The American Exception,” Smith says that nobody in 1945 wanted to go back to 1939 unless it was to do what?

3. 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?

4. What example does Smith use in “Peonies” as a time when submitting might be better than resisting?

5. The day Smith looked at the peonies in the Jefferson Market Garden was just a few days before what Smith refers to as what?

(see the answer key)

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