1. Just recently, we had two major appliances (a microwave and a dishwasher) break down within one week. It was a significant blow to our finances. The question: How could this have happened?

a. coincidence

b. bad luck

c. power surge

d. God is punishing me for something.

e. The universe is out to get me.

f. My parents originally planned to name me Job.

g. Murphy’s Law kicked in.

h. We are hard on our appliances and break them.

i. The appliances were bought at the same time, and, like the wonderful one-horse shay, they all wore out at the same time.

j. Chinese agents installed a kill switch in the microchips.

k. Fate, destiny, and the force converged.

l. Venus, Mars, and Jupiter collided.

m. It is another example of shoddy workmanship in the manufacture of modern appliances.

n. a and b

o. a, b, and c

p. c and d

q. x, y, and z

r. all of the above

s. none of the above

t. not q

u. other_________

2. The microwave was on sale for $288. We actually paid:

a. $288
b. $315

c. $327.88

d. $400

e. $700

f. $900

g. $2,000,000

h. I don’t care.

3. The correct answer to question 2 is f. $900. This was a result of:

a. fraud

b. greed

c. bait and switch

d. consumer complacency

e. consumer gullibility

f. consumer ignorance

g. consumer stupidity

h. delivery, installation, removal of the old microwave, environmental levy, extended warranty, provincial tax, federal tax

i. an international conspiracy

j. poor math skills

k. computer

4. Multiple-choice exams were invented:

a. as a medieval torture device

b. to demonstrate the superiority of the Arabic numeral system

c. by lazy teachers

d. for lazy students

e. computer

5. The correct answers are:

1. x, 2. f, 3. j, 4. e, 5. none of the above

6. If you got all 10 questions correct, you will receive:

a. a calculator

b. an abacus

c. praise

d. astonishment

e. a participation ribbon

f. computer

To claim your prize, call I-CAN-NOT COUNT. If you have complaints or questions about the process, see 2. h