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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In the end, Sedaris' authority is undermined when
(a) He admits how much money he is paid to teach the class
(b) He admits that he has never been published.
(c) He refuses to answer a student's question about his salary.
(d) He allows a student to teach the class.

2. Who or what threatens to divide Sedaris' class?
(a) Sedaris' Pillow Talk segment, where students discussed their personal lives.
(b) The teenage freshmen students.
(c) An older returning student who claimed he was wasting her time.
(d) An asthmatic who protected the smoking rule in class.

3. Sedaris is not bothered by the possible ingredients in a hot dog because
(a) He only eats vegetarian hot dogs.
(b) He is used to exotic foods.
(c) He recognizes the hot dog as food.
(d) He does not believe the rumors about them.

4. Where music is concerned, Sedaris' father could be described as a
(a) Realist.
(b) Professional.
(c) Dreamer.
(d) Skeptic.

5. Why are the fishermen interested in Lou Sedaris' equation?
(a) They want to know how much their property would have been worth today.
(b) They want to know if he is interested in buying property.
(c) They want to know why he is drawing in the sand.
(d) They are interested in the number of grains of sand per acre.

6. At the end of the essay, Miss Sampson tricks Sedaris by
(a) Getting him to say "I'm sorry."
(b) Getting him to overcome his lisp.
(c) Forcing him to speak in front of the class.
(d) Making him continue to take speech therapy.

7. Sedaris compares his father's most recent dog, Sophie, to
(a) An inexperienced substitute teacher.
(b) A substitute wife.
(c) A capricious young bride.
(d) A trophy wife.

8. Two extreme facets of Paul's personality are
(a) Studying and reading.
(b) Drinking Mountain Dew and wearing make-up.
(c) Fighting and swearing.
(d) Eating candy and refusing to work.

9. After his gourmet meal, Sedaris elects to
(a) Grab a burger at a fast-food place.
(b) Grab a hot dog on the way to the movies.
(c) Eat a huge bucket of popcorn at the movies.
(d) Eat a plate of nachos at the movies.

10. Facing his lack of artistic talent might mean
(a) Sobering up and moving on.
(b) Needing more drugs.
(c) Learning a new trade.
(d) Admitting his father was right.

11. Sedaris and his father seem to
(a) Have an unusually close realtionship
(b) Try to make each other unhappy.
(c) Be angry at each other most of the time.
(d) Have few common interests.

12. The scientific term Sedaris fears his father will use is
(a) Bazillion.
(b) Aquatics.
(c) Googolplex.
(d) Pi.

13. Miss Sampson believes Sedaris lisps because
(a) He has a lazy tongue.
(b) He never learned to speak correctly.
(c) He cannot hear the sound of his own voice.
(d) He wants to stand out among other students.

14. Sedaris confesses his desire to perform what songs before an audience?
(a) Blues classics.
(b) Jazz classics.
(c) Pop songs.
(d) Commercial jingles.

15. Lou Sedaris said his daughters would thank him for
(a) Introducing them to eligible men.
(b) Encouraging them to exercise.
(c) Encouraging them about their looks.
(d) Harrassing them about their weight.

Short Answer Questions

1. Instead of the performance piece in the twelfth "moment," Sedaris seems to admire

2. Sedaris resents his father's approach toward art because

3. One bi-product of new computer technology that Sedaris finds unfortunate is

4. The Japanese cartoon Fatty and Skinny makes Sedaris sad because

5. What Sedaris admires in his sister Gretchen is

(see the answer keys)

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