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Reading Comprehension Quiz (David Sedaris, “Me Talk Pretty One Day”)

Reading Comprehension Quiz

David Sedaris, “Me Talk Pretty One Day”

Read “Me Talk Pretty One Day” and check your comprehension by answering the following questions. Click the submit button when finished.

Question What language class is Sedaris enrolled in?

1. What language class is Sedaris enrolled in?

Latin

German

French

Japanese

Question Why was Sedaris startled when the teacher asked if anyone knew the alphabet?

2. Why was Sedaris startled when the teacher asked if anyone knew the alphabet?

He had fallen asleep already.

He didn’t understand the question.

The question was too simple and he was going to have to drop the class.

He hadn’t been asked this question in a while.

Question The first woman from Poland named Anna says she hates

3. The first woman from Poland named Anna says she hates

mosquitoes.

guys who come on too strong.

brain pudding.

laziness.

Question The beautiful young Yugoslav was ridiculed because

4. The beautiful young Yugoslav was ridiculed because

she was beautiful.

she assigned the wrong gender to inanimate objects.

she loved Tums.

she said she loved everything in the world.

Question Sedaris writes that he throws himself into the class to create some sort of identity. What identity does he hope to obtain?

5. Sedaris writes that he throws himself into the class to create some sort of identity. What identity does he hope to obtain?

David the writer

David the cut-up

David the screw-up

David the under-achiever

Question What does the teacher say in perfect English to Sedaris?

6. What does the teacher say in perfect English to Sedaris?

“I really, really hate you.”

“Were you always this palicmkrexis”?

“Oh yeah? And do you love your little war”?

“How very interesting. I thought that everyone loved the mosquito.”

Question Sedaris wonders why they don’t sell what in vending machines?

7. Sedaris wonders why they don’t sell what in vending machines?

books

cuts of meat

vegetables

dog food

Question Sedaris refers to the conversations outside of the class as being like the ones commonly overheard in

8. Sedaris refers to the conversations outside of the class as being like the ones commonly overheard in

salons.

classrooms.

refugee camps.

prison.

Question What did the students believe they would be scolded for in the fall?

9. What did the students believe they would be scolded for in the fall?

not knowing the irregular past tense of the verb to defeat

the puddles of water from their dripping umbrellas and overcoats

not knowing that typewriter is feminine

speaking in any other language than French

Question What does Sedaris describe as being “intoxicating and deceptive”?

10. What does Sedaris describe as being “intoxicating and deceptive”?

the humiliation he received everyday

understanding every word that the teacher was saying

being in France

getting out of the class