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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. When Hugh's father was late picking him up from the movies, he discovered
(a) The theatre had only folding chairs and a sheet for a screen.
(b) A new film about a talking Volkswagen.
(c) A dead man hanging from a telephone pole.
(d) A man killing a pig with a shotgun.

2. What changes Sedaris' mind about visiting France for the summer?
(a) The desire to learn French convinces Sedaris to visit France.
(b) Loneliness convinces Sedaris to visit France.
(c) The promise of being a local celebrity convinces Sedaris to visit France.
(d) The gifts Hugh brings him convince Sedaris to visit France.

3. According to Sedaris, speaking Easy French means
(a) Screaming English at the top of your lungs.
(b) Using only nouns.
(c) Speaking only conversational French.
(d) Memorizing phrases from a guidebook.

4. What does Sedaris admit to feeling for America?
(a) Contempt.
(b) Pride.
(c) Anger.
(d) Arrogance.

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 tried to take pictures of an accident 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 watched a girl die at a Paris street fair.

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

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

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

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

11. The Texans on the Metro do not make room for the growing crowd because
(a) They are unable to make their seats fold up.
(b) They feel entitled to their seats.
(c) They are too tired to get up.
(d) They are unable to read the signs instructing them to do so.

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

13. Sedaris bonds with the other students
(a) Over their common fear of failing the class.
(b) Over the common hope that their teacher will like them.
(c) Over the common fear that they will never learn French.
(d) Over their hatred for the teacher.

14. Sedaris attempts to impress his teacher by
(a) Using his humor to lighten up the class.
(b) Speaking only English in class.
(c) Speaking perfect French.
(d) Using his humor to make homework assignments interesting.

15. Sedaris insists that Hugh take the IQ test with him
(a) So that Hugh can translate the test into English for him.
(b) So that he can prove he is smarter than Hugh.
(c) So that he can compare his score to someone else's.
(d) So that he can prove he is a genius to his father.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why are the students in Sedaris' French class intimidated by the teacher?

2. In the end, Sedaris decides

3. What are the vachettes?

4. The celebrity Sedaris' barber is fascinated by is

5. At the end of the essay, Sedaris compares himself to

(see the answer keys)

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