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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 "Pearls," what age does Sedaris say is the official start of old age?
(a) 50.
(b) 60.
(c) 55.
(d) 45.

2. In the opening of "Fresh-Caught Haddock," whose death does Sedaris mention?
(a) Andre Hill.
(b) George Floyd.
(c) Duante Wright.
(d) Breonna Taylor.

3. In "Smile, Beautiful," what does a woman at a book signing tell Sedaris that brings him close to tears?
(a) He has inspired her to get her teeth fixed.
(b) He reminds her that looks do not matter.
(c) His book changed her life.
(d) He has a beautiful smile.

4. In "Pearls," what does Sedaris say his mother would often call to read him over the phone?
(a) Obituaries.
(b) Job listings.
(c) His horoscope.
(d) Wedding announcements.

5. According to "Lady Marmalade," what was unusual about the way Lou usually dressed at home?
(a) He wore the same dirty t-shirt for weeks.
(b) He wore his winter coat indoors.
(c) He often did not wear pants.
(d) He liked to wear their mother's robe.

Short Answer Questions

1. In "A Better Place," what feature of the restaurant does Sedaris repeatedly complain about?

2. On page 238 of "Pussytoes," how does Sedaris say people refer to "a massively difficult person" once they get old?

3. In "Pussytoes," what item from Lou's house does Gretchen give Sedaris?

4. In "Fresh-Caught Haddock," what objection does Sedaris raise to one of the protest chants?

5. On page 151 of "The Vacuum," what phrase does Sedaris say he resents having survived the pandemic?

Short Essay Questions

1. 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?

2. In "Lucky-Go-Happy," what does Sedaris start asking all of the teenagers at his readings, and what is his reaction to the responses he gets?

3. In "Pussytoes," what is Sedaris's reaction to his father's "Little Black Book"?

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

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

6. In "Lady Marmalade," what conclusion does Sedaris draw about Lou's motivations for his behavior toward his children's bodies?

7. In "Smile, Beautiful," what does Sedaris share about the conditions under which he can be generous?

8. In "A Better Place," what is the rhetorical purpose of describing Lou's grave site in such detail?

9. In "Lady Marmalade," what reasons do the Sedaris siblings have for being skeptical of Tiffany's claims that Lou sexually abused her?

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

(see the answer keys)

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