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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Why has Steinbeck's visit disturbed his family?
(a) He drinks too much beer.
(b) They want to remember the younger Steinbeck of their memories.
(c) He has parked his camper in the yard.
(d) He makes long distance phone calls on their phones.

2. What impresses Steinbeck with its strange rock formations?
(a) Yosemite
(b) Mount Rushmore
(c) The Grand Canyon
(d) The Wisconsin Dells

3. What does a friend want Steinbeck to bring back from his trip?
(a) Any honest men
(b) Beer from all the states he visits
(c) Rocks from the mountains
(d) Tumbleweed from the desert

4. Where does Steinbeck go for a family visit?
(a) His sister's house
(b) His cousin's house
(c) His brother's house
(d) His uncle's house

5. Where is Steinbeck's last stop in California?
(a) San Juan Capistrano
(b) Los Angeles
(c) Fremont's Peak
(d) La Jolla

6. Who does Steinbeck believe was properly impressed with the country they trekked?
(a) Native Americans
(b) Lewis & Clark
(c) Pioneers
(d) Civil War soldiers

7. What is the name of the group giving disturbing speeches?
(a) The Cheerleaders
(b) The Toastmasters
(c) The Democrats
(d) The Republicans

8. After the border fiasco, Steinbeck admits that he loves countries but hates _____________________.
(a) governments
(b) inaccurate road maps
(c) driving
(d) rundown roadside rest areas

9. What does Steinbeck enjoy in Idaho?
(a) Wildflowers
(b) Fly fishing
(c) Baked potatoes
(d) Snow-capped mountains

10. What does Steinbeck call the previous guest of a hotel room he waits in temporarily?
(a) Marvel the Magician
(b) Lonesome Harry
(c) The Invisible Man
(d) Johnny on the Spot

11. What prevents Steinbeck from moving to the answer to #126?
(a) There is no ocean.
(b) There are no big cities.
(c) There are no great restaurants.
(d) There are no major league baseball teams.

12. What is the occupation of Steinbeck's camping neighbor for the night?
(a) A Shakesperian performer
(b) A farming implements salesman
(c) An auto executive
(d) A plastics salesman

13. According to Steinbeck, what do people living in a bland world crave?
(a) Travel magazines about foreign countries
(b) Science fiction books
(c) Restaurants serving spicy foods
(d) Sex and violence in their fiction

14. To which state would Steinbeck like to move?
(a) South Dakota
(b) Montana
(c) Wyoming
(d) North Dakota

15. What impresses Steinbeck at the rest stops?
(a) The friendliness of other travelers
(b) The dog walking areas
(c) The really clean facilities
(d) The variety of goods in the vending machines

Short Answer Questions

1. Why do many people invest in house trailers?

2. What does Steinbeck admire most about Texans?

3. What does Steinbeck exclude from the novel?

4. What beauty does Steinbeck see at sunset?

5. Why will Steinbeck never move back to Monterey?

(see the answer keys)

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