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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In "A Better Place," what feature of the restaurant does Sedaris repeatedly complain about?
(a) The atmosphere.
(b) The food.
(c) The service.
(d) The prices.

2. Where does the title "Pussytoes" come from?
(a) The Sedaris siblings' childhood pet.
(b) Lou's wife's nickname for him.
(c) A song that Lou used to sing.
(d) Flowers in a park.

3. In "Fresh-Caught Haddock," what objection does Sedaris raise to one of the protest chants?
(a) He does not believe in public swearing.
(b) He thinks it is too long and complicated to be practical.
(c) He worries that protesters are courting violence from the police.
(d) He dislikes equating a sexual act with punishment.

4. In "A Better Place," what does Sedaris suggest would be true about Lou, if there were, in fact, an afterlife?
(a) Lou would still be making fun of him.
(b) Lou would be trying to boss God around.
(c) Lou would finally learn to play the guitar.
(d) Lou would be in hell.

5. On page 151 of "The Vacuum," what phrase does Sedaris say he resents having survived the pandemic?
(a) "No problem."
(b) "Welcome in."
(c) "Howdy do."
(d) "Have a blessed day."

Short Answer Questions

1. In "Lucky-Go-Happy," why does Sedaris spend months thinking about a show he did in Vancouver?

2. In "Happy-Go-Lucky," how old does Lou claim to be?

3. In "Pussytoes," which sibling ends up making the bulk of the arrangements after Lou's death?

4. In "Fresh-Caught Haddock," what concern does Sedaris express about the looting in New York?

5. In "The Vacuum," what does Sedaris say he sees more of on the streets of New York during the pandemic?

Short Essay Questions

1. In "Happy-Go-Lucky," why does Sedaris think that his father is losing his hearing?

2. In "Pussytoes," what perspective shift does Sedaris use as he describes sitting at Lou's bedside, and what impact does this have on the reader?

3. In "Fresh-Caught Haddock," what examples of his own unconscious racism does Sedaris give?

4. In "Fresh-Caught Haddock," what does a Jewish acquaintance point out to Sedaris about his proposed solutions for Confederate monuments?

5. In "Pussytoes," what disagreement do the siblings have about the photo of Lou to use with his obituary?

6. What sentiment does Sedaris close the essay "The Vacuum" with, and what example does he give?

7. What is the rhetorical function of opening "The Vacuum" with the description of the supermarket near Sedaris's apartment?

8. In "Smile, Beautiful," how do Hugh and Amy react after Sedaris reveals his newly corrected teeth?

9. In "The Vacuum," what activities does Sedaris describe filling his days with while he is waiting until he can go out and walk at night?

10. In "Happy-Go-Lucky," what do the changes in Lou suggest to Sedaris might be true in his own life?

(see the answer keys)

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