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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. When Sedaris watches American movies in Paris, he
(a) Does not feel guilty for escaping to the theatre.
(b) Does not feel ashamed to be American.
(c) Does not remember he is in Paris.
(d) Does not feel homesick.

2. Sedaris is considered a celebrity by French teenagers because
(a) He is from New York City.
(b) He knows many celebrities.
(c) He owns a glamorous home.
(d) He is a published author.

3. Sedaris says he sounds like an evil baby when speaking French because
(a) He refuses to speak French aloud.
(b) He only uses curse words.
(c) He refuses to learn new words.
(d) He only uses nouns at first.

4. Sedaris takes it personally when his teacher says
(a) He will never learn French.
(b) His accent is terrible.
(c) She will not pass him from the course.
(d) She hates him.

5. Even without the language barrier, Sedaris doubts people can communicate clearly about
(a) Faith.
(b) Easter.
(c) Holidays.
(d) Habits.

6. Why has Sedaris' conscience been bothering him?
(a) He watched a girl die at a Paris street fair.
(b) He was morbidly fascinated by the possible death of a carnival worker.
(c) He was morbidly fascinated by the possible death of a girl at a Paris fair.
(d) He tried to take pictures of an accident at a Paris street fair.

7. In The Knockout, Sedaris is dismayed to find
(a) Many groups object to his fighting since he has no passion for it.
(b) He is too old to enter a boxing match.
(c) Many groups want him to represent their cause in the ring.
(d) No one believes he can win the fight.

8. Sedaris finds that most of the people in class share the belief that
(a) Easter occurs in March or April.
(b) They will one day share a common faith.
(c) They will one day speak and understand French clearly.
(d) They can clearly communicate their religious beliefs.

9. What does Sedaris feel he is sometimes called to do as an American living in Paris?
(a) He is called to defend his decision to keep his citizenship.
(b) He is called to apologize for Bill Clinton's exploits.
(c) He is called to explain or defend America.
(d) He is called to explain his move to France.

10. The derogatory term Martin uses for a French person is
(a) Fruit.
(b) French fry.
(c) Froggy.
(d) Fritter.

11. How does Sedaris solve his problem naming masculine and feminine nouns in public?
(a) He refuses to use nouns in conversation.
(b) He uses the singular form of every noun, so no gender is necessary.
(c) He uses the plural form of every noun, so no gender is necessary.
(d) He assigns every noun a gender he feels is appropriate.

12. Though Sedaris is in Paris, he spends most of his time
(a) Watching silent films.
(b) Watching American films.
(c) Watching foreign films.
(d) Watching documentaries.

13. Sedaris claims that if he wanted to hear wall-to-wall French
(a) He would buy more French books on tape.
(b) He would go back to French class.
(c) He would simply participate in real life.
(d) He would move back to Normandy.

14. When men are injured by the vachettes, Sedaris
(a) Cries out and has to leave the arena.
(b) Cries out and grabs his neighbors.
(c) Is overcome with joy.
(d) Laughs aloud.

15. According to Sedaris, what did Hugh gain from his difficult experiences?
(a) A great selection of childhood stories.
(b) A sense of fortitude.
(c) A sense of self-righteousness.
(d) A position with the State Department.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why does Hugh get frustrated with Sedaris' multiple purchases?

2. Martin, the American husband, remarks that

3. Tea keeps Sedaris awake because

4. What is the most difficult part of learning French for Sedaris?

5. In the Mr. Science fantasy, Sedaris

(see the answer keys)

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