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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. At which point does Smith say a man submits to nature?
(a) At birth.
(b) In death.
(c) In private.
(d) In old age.

2. In “Something to Do,” Smith says that without love life can seem what?
(a) Empty and endless.
(b) Dark and depressing.
(c) Comical.
(d) Tragic.

3. What does Smith say we were in a “long, involved cultural conversation” about prior to the pandemic?
(a) Universal Healthcare.
(b) Privilege.
(c) Free public universities.
(d) Gender inequality.

4. In “Suffering Like Mel Gibson” Smith discusses an article she read about a 17-year-old who committed suicide during the pandemic for what reason?
(a) She could not stand Zoom meetings.
(b) She did not have access to the internet from home.
(c) She did not get enough likes on social media.
(d) She could not see her friends.

5. What term does Smith reference in “The American Exception” which Trump used in reference to other countries he saw as inferior?
(a) "Lowlife countries."
(b) "Crappy countries."
(c) "Shithole countries."
(d) "Unimportant countries."

6. In “Suffering Like Mel Gibson,” Smith says that suffering “is not relative; it is” (34) what?
(a) Necessary.
(b) A waste of time.
(c) Imaginary.
(d) Absolute.

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

8. Smith thinks that one reason Americans cannot fathom plagues is because they do not discriminate based on what?
(a) Zip code.
(b) Gender.
(c) Wealth.
(d) Skin color.

9. Though the “bubble” of privilege can be penetrated, what bubble does Smith say cannot be penetrated?
(a) Inadequate education.
(b) Isolation.
(c) Suffering.
(d) Self-hate.

10. In “Suffering Like Mel Gibson” Smith says that class can alter what?
(a) Your taste in clothes.
(b) The number of cars you own.
(c) Your conception of reality.
(d) Your level of empathy.

11. What is the topic of conversation Smith overhears between two woman at a Subway shop in “Suffering Like Mel Gibson”?
(a) Feminism.
(b) The economy.
(c) Higher Education.
(d) Technology and children.

12. At the start of “Suffering Like Mel Gibson,” which type of person does Smith say dreamed of an “isolation within isolation” (29) at the start of the pandemic?
(a) Grandparents.
(b) Married couples with children.
(c) Roommates.
(d) Dating couples.

13. In the conversation Smith overhears at a Subway shop, the two women discuss seeing a baby holding what item?
(a) His mother’s keys.
(b) An iPhone.
(c) A harmonica.
(d) An iPad.

14. In “The American Exception,” Smith says that the poorer countries Trump condemned did not have the foresight to be what?
(a) Europe.
(b) America.
(c) Iceland.
(d) Sweden.

15. What does Smith say in “Suffering Like Mel Gibson” was the only relief people quarantining together had from one another?
(a) Pretending to be asleep.
(b) The computer screen.
(c) Hiding in a closet.
(d) Pretending to go to the bathroom.

Short Answer Questions

1. Which type of person does Smith say was overjoyed with the new free time at the start of the pandemic?

2. Which actor is in the director’s chair talking to Jesus in the meme someone sent Smith at the start of the pandemic?

3. What flowers does Smith wish she was looking at instead of peonies?

4. What image of “bored children” at home does Smith use in “The American Exception”?

5. Which writer does Smith quote in her essay “Something to Do”?

(see the answer keys)

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