diff --git a/python2/koans/about_asserts.py b/python2/koans/about_asserts.py
index 8c80671d7..65cc9e992 100644
--- a/python2/koans/about_asserts.py
+++ b/python2/koans/about_asserts.py
@@ -15,26 +15,26 @@ def test_assert_truth(self):
         #
         #   http://bit.ly/about_asserts
 
-        self.assertTrue(False)  # This should be True
+        self.assertTrue(True)  # This should be True
 
     def test_assert_with_message(self):
         """
         Enlightenment may be more easily achieved with appropriate messages.
         """
-        self.assertTrue(False, "This should be True -- Please fix this")
+        self.assertTrue(True, "This should be True -- Please fix this")
 
     def test_fill_in_values(self):
         """
         Sometimes we will ask you to fill in the values
         """
-        self.assertEqual(__, 1 + 1)
+        self.assertEqual(2, 1 + 1)
 
     def test_assert_equality(self):
         """
         To understand reality, we must compare our expectations against
         reality.
         """
-        expected_value = __
+        expected_value = 2
         actual_value = 1 + 1
         self.assertTrue(expected_value == actual_value)
 
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ def test_a_better_way_of_asserting_equality(self):
         """
         Some ways of asserting equality are better than others.
         """
-        expected_value = __
+        expected_value = 2
         actual_value = 1 + 1
 
         self.assertEqual(expected_value, actual_value)
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ def test_that_unittest_asserts_work_the_same_way_as_python_asserts(self):
         """
 
         # This throws an AssertionError exception
-        assert False
+        assert True
 
     def test_that_sometimes_we_need_to_know_the_class_type(self):
         """
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ def test_that_sometimes_we_need_to_know_the_class_type(self):
         #
         # See for yourself:
 
-        self.assertEqual(__, "navel".__class__) # It's str, not <type 'str'>
+        self.assertEqual(str, "navel".__class__) # It's str, not <type 'str'>
 
         # Need an illustration? More reading can be found here:
         #
diff --git a/python2/koans/about_dictionaries.py b/python2/koans/about_dictionaries.py
index 8591b5439..8458665db 100644
--- a/python2/koans/about_dictionaries.py
+++ b/python2/koans/about_dictionaries.py
@@ -13,40 +13,40 @@ def test_creating_dictionaries(self):
         empty_dict = dict()
         self.assertEqual(dict, type(empty_dict))
         self.assertEqual(dict(), empty_dict)
-        self.assertEqual(__, len(empty_dict))
+        self.assertEqual(0, len(empty_dict))
 
     def test_dictionary_literals(self):
         empty_dict = {}
         self.assertEqual(dict, type(empty_dict))
         babel_fish = {'one': 'uno', 'two': 'dos'}
-        self.assertEqual(__, len(babel_fish))
+        self.assertEqual(2, len(babel_fish))
 
     def test_accessing_dictionaries(self):
         babel_fish = {'one': 'uno', 'two': 'dos'}
-        self.assertEqual(__, babel_fish['one'])
-        self.assertEqual(__, babel_fish['two'])
+        self.assertEqual('uno', babel_fish['one'])
+        self.assertEqual('dos', babel_fish['two'])
 
     def test_changing_dictionaries(self):
         babel_fish = {'one': 'uno', 'two': 'dos'}
         babel_fish['one'] = 'eins'
 
-        expected = {'two': 'dos', 'one': __}
+        expected = {'two': 'dos', 'one': 'eins'}
         self.assertEqual(expected, babel_fish)
 
     def test_dictionary_is_unordered(self):
         dict1 = {'one': 'uno', 'two': 'dos'}
         dict2 = {'two': 'dos', 'one': 'uno'}
 
-        self.assertEqual(____, dict1 == dict2)
+        self.assertEqual(True, dict1 == dict2)
 
     def test_dictionary_keys_and_values(self):
         babel_fish = {'one': 'uno', 'two': 'dos'}
-        self.assertEqual(__, len(babel_fish.keys()))
-        self.assertEqual(__, len(babel_fish.values()))
-        self.assertEqual(__, 'one' in babel_fish.keys())
-        self.assertEqual(__, 'two' in babel_fish.values())
-        self.assertEqual(__, 'uno' in babel_fish.keys())
-        self.assertEqual(__, 'dos' in babel_fish.values())
+        self.assertEqual(2, len(babel_fish.keys()))
+        self.assertEqual(2, len(babel_fish.values()))
+        self.assertEqual(True, 'one' in babel_fish.keys())
+        self.assertEqual(False, 'two' in babel_fish.values())
+        self.assertEqual(False, 'uno' in babel_fish.keys())
+        self.assertEqual(True, 'dos' in babel_fish.values())
 
     def test_making_a_dictionary_from_a_sequence_of_keys(self):
         cards = {}.fromkeys(
@@ -54,6 +54,6 @@ def test_making_a_dictionary_from_a_sequence_of_keys(self):
              'confused looking zebra'),
             42)
 
-        self.assertEqual(__, len(cards))
-        self.assertEqual(__, cards['green elf'])
-        self.assertEqual(__, cards['yellow dwarf'])
+        self.assertEqual(5, len(cards))
+        self.assertEqual(42, cards['green elf'])
+        self.assertEqual(42, cards['yellow dwarf'])
diff --git a/python2/koans/about_list_assignments.py b/python2/koans/about_list_assignments.py
index 2c0267805..a48e4e6d6 100644
--- a/python2/koans/about_list_assignments.py
+++ b/python2/koans/about_list_assignments.py
@@ -11,21 +11,21 @@
 class AboutListAssignments(Koan):
     def test_non_parallel_assignment(self):
         names = ["John", "Smith"]
-        self.assertEqual(__, names)
+        self.assertEqual(["John", "Smith"], names)
 
     def test_parallel_assignments(self):
         first_name, last_name = ["John", "Smith"]
-        self.assertEqual(__, first_name)
-        self.assertEqual(__, last_name)
+        self.assertEqual("John", first_name)
+        self.assertEqual("Smith", last_name)
 
     def test_parallel_assignments_with_sublists(self):
         first_name, last_name = [["Willie", "Rae"], "Johnson"]
-        self.assertEqual(__, first_name)
-        self.assertEqual(__, last_name)
+        self.assertEqual(["Willie", "Rae"], first_name)
+        self.assertEqual("Johnson", last_name)
 
     def test_swapping_with_parallel_assignment(self):
         first_name = "Roy"
         last_name = "Rob"
         first_name, last_name = last_name, first_name
-        self.assertEqual(__, first_name)
-        self.assertEqual(__, last_name)
+        self.assertEqual("Rob", first_name)
+        self.assertEqual("Roy", last_name)
diff --git a/python2/koans/about_lists.py b/python2/koans/about_lists.py
index d89888f6d..53159f90e 100644
--- a/python2/koans/about_lists.py
+++ b/python2/koans/about_lists.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ class AboutLists(Koan):
     def test_creating_lists(self):
         empty_list = list()
         self.assertEqual(list, type(empty_list))
-        self.assertEqual(__, len(empty_list))
+        self.assertEqual(0, len(empty_list))
 
     def test_list_literals(self):
         nums = list()
@@ -22,69 +22,69 @@ def test_list_literals(self):
         self.assertEqual([1], nums)
 
         nums[1:] = [2]
-        self.assertEqual([1, __], nums)
+        self.assertEqual([1,2], nums)
 
         nums.append(333)
-        self.assertEqual([1, 2, __], nums)
+        self.assertEqual([1, 2,333], nums)
 
     def test_accessing_list_elements(self):
         noms = ['peanut', 'butter', 'and', 'jelly']
 
-        self.assertEqual(__, noms[0])
-        self.assertEqual(__, noms[3])
-        self.assertEqual(__, noms[-1])
-        self.assertEqual(__, noms[-3])
+        self.assertEqual('peanut', noms[0])
+        self.assertEqual('jelly', noms[3])
+        self.assertEqual('jelly', noms[-1])
+        self.assertEqual('butter', noms[-3])
 
     def test_slicing_lists(self):
         noms = ['peanut', 'butter', 'and', 'jelly']
 
-        self.assertEqual(__, noms[0:1])
-        self.assertEqual(__, noms[0:2])
-        self.assertEqual(__, noms[2:2])
-        self.assertEqual(__, noms[2:20])
-        self.assertEqual(__, noms[4:0])
-        self.assertEqual(__, noms[4:100])
-        self.assertEqual(__, noms[5:0])
+        self.assertEqual(['peanut'], noms[0:1])
+        self.assertEqual(['peanut','butter'], noms[0:2])
+        self.assertEqual([], noms[2:2])
+        self.assertEqual(['and','jelly'], noms[2:20])
+        self.assertEqual([], noms[4:0])
+        self.assertEqual([], noms[4:100])
+        self.assertEqual([], noms[5:0])
 
     def test_slicing_to_the_edge(self):
         noms = ['peanut', 'butter', 'and', 'jelly']
 
-        self.assertEqual(__, noms[2:])
-        self.assertEqual(__, noms[:2])
+        self.assertEqual(['and', 'jelly'], noms[2:])
+        self.assertEqual(['peanut', 'butter'], noms[:2])
 
     def test_lists_and_ranges(self):
         self.assertEqual(list, type(range(5)))
-        self.assertEqual(__, range(5))
-        self.assertEqual(__, range(5, 9))
+        self.assertEqual([0,1,2,3,4], range(5))
+        self.assertEqual([5,6,7,8], range(5, 9))
 
     def test_ranges_with_steps(self):
-        self.assertEqual(__, range(5, 3, -1))
-        self.assertEqual(__, range(0, 8, 2))
-        self.assertEqual(__, range(1, 8, 3))
-        self.assertEqual(__, range(5, -7, -4))
-        self.assertEqual(__, range(5, -8, -4))
+        self.assertEqual([5,4], range(5, 3, -1))
+        self.assertEqual([0,2,4,6], range(0, 8, 2))
+        self.assertEqual([1,4,7], range(1, 8, 3))
+        self.assertEqual([5,1,-3], range(5, -7, -4))
+        self.assertEqual([5,1,-3,-7], range(5, -8, -4))
 
     def test_insertions(self):
         knight = ['you', 'shall', 'pass']
         knight.insert(2, 'not')
-        self.assertEqual(__, knight)
+        self.assertEqual(['you', 'shall', 'not', 'pass'], knight)
 
         knight.insert(0, 'Arthur')
-        self.assertEqual(__, knight)
+        self.assertEqual(['Arthur', 'you', 'shall', 'not', 'pass'], knight)
 
     def test_popping_lists(self):
         stack = [10, 20, 30, 40]
         stack.append('last')
 
-        self.assertEqual(__, stack)
+        self.assertEqual([10, 20, 30, 40, 'last'], stack)
 
         popped_value = stack.pop()
-        self.assertEqual(__, popped_value)
-        self.assertEqual(__, stack)
+        self.assertEqual('last', popped_value)
+        self.assertEqual([10, 20, 30, 40], stack)
 
         popped_value = stack.pop(1)
-        self.assertEqual(__, popped_value)
-        self.assertEqual(__, stack)
+        self.assertEqual(20, popped_value)
+        self.assertEqual([10, 30, 40], stack)
 
         # Notice that there is a "pop" but no "push" in python?
 
@@ -100,8 +100,8 @@ def test_use_deques_for_making_queues(self):
         queue = deque([1, 2])
         queue.append('last')
 
-        self.assertEqual(__, list(queue))
+        self.assertEqual([1, 2, 'last'], list(queue))
 
         popped_value = queue.popleft()
-        self.assertEqual(__, popped_value)
-        self.assertEqual(__, list(queue))
+        self.assertEqual(1, popped_value)
+        self.assertEqual([2, 'last'], list(queue))
diff --git a/python2/koans/about_methods.py b/python2/koans/about_methods.py
index fd924f9c9..b670b7b81 100644
--- a/python2/koans/about_methods.py
+++ b/python2/koans/about_methods.py
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ def my_global_function(a, b):
 
 class AboutMethods(Koan):
     def test_calling_a_global_function(self):
-        self.assertEqual(__, my_global_function(2, 3))
+        self.assertEqual(5, my_global_function(2, 3))
 
     # NOTE: Wrong number of arguments is not a SYNTAX error, but a
     # runtime error.
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ def test_calling_functions_with_wrong_number_of_arguments(self):
         except Exception as exception:
             # NOTE: The .__name__ attribute will convert the class
             # into a string value.
-            self.assertEqual(__, exception.__class__.__name__)
+            self.assertEqual("TypeError", exception.__class__.__name__)
             self.assertMatch(
                 r'my_global_function\(\) takes exactly 2 arguments \(0 given\)',
                 exception[0])
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ def test_calling_functions_with_wrong_number_of_arguments(self):
         except Exception as e:
 
             # Note, watch out for parenthesis. They need slashes in front!
-            self.assertMatch(__, e[0])
+            self.assertMatch(r'my_global_function\(\) takes exactly 2 arguments \(3 given\)', e[0])
 
     # ------------------------------------------------------------------
 
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ def pointless_method(self, a, b):
         sum = a + b
 
     def test_which_does_not_return_anything(self):
-        self.assertEqual(__, self.pointless_method(1, 2))
+        self.assertEqual(None, self.pointless_method(1, 2))
         # Notice that methods accessed from class scope do not require
         # you to pass the first "self" argument?
 
@@ -52,8 +52,8 @@ def method_with_defaults(self, a, b='default_value'):
         return [a, b]
 
     def test_calling_with_default_values(self):
-        self.assertEqual(__, self.method_with_defaults(1))
-        self.assertEqual(__, self.method_with_defaults(1, 2))
+        self.assertEqual([1, 'default_value'], self.method_with_defaults(1))
+        self.assertEqual([1,2], self.method_with_defaults(1, 2))
 
     # ------------------------------------------------------------------
 
@@ -61,9 +61,9 @@ def method_with_var_args(self, *args):
         return args
 
     def test_calling_with_variable_arguments(self):
-        self.assertEqual(__, self.method_with_var_args())
+        self.assertEqual((), self.method_with_var_args())
         self.assertEqual(('one', ), self.method_with_var_args('one'))
-        self.assertEqual(__, self.method_with_var_args('one', 'two'))
+        self.assertEqual(('one', 'two'), self.method_with_var_args('one', 'two'))
 
     # ------------------------------------------------------------------
 
@@ -74,13 +74,13 @@ def test_functions_without_self_arg_are_global_functions(self):
         def function_with_the_same_name(a, b):
             return a * b
 
-        self.assertEqual(__, function_with_the_same_name(3, 4))
+        self.assertEqual(12, function_with_the_same_name(3, 4))
 
     def test_calling_methods_in_same_class_with_explicit_receiver(self):
         def function_with_the_same_name(a, b):
             return a * b
 
-        self.assertEqual(__, self.function_with_the_same_name(3, 4))
+        self.assertEqual(7, self.function_with_the_same_name(3, 4))
 
     # ------------------------------------------------------------------
 
@@ -93,10 +93,10 @@ def another_method_with_the_same_name(self):
         return 42
 
     def test_that_old_methods_are_hidden_by_redefinitions(self):
-        self.assertEqual(__, self.another_method_with_the_same_name())
+        self.assertEqual(42, self.another_method_with_the_same_name())
 
     def test_that_overlapped_method_is_still_there(self):
-        self.assertEqual(__, self.link_to_overlapped_method())
+        self.assertEqual(10, self.link_to_overlapped_method())
 
     # ------------------------------------------------------------------
 
@@ -104,21 +104,21 @@ def empty_method(self):
         pass
 
     def test_methods_that_do_nothing_need_to_use_pass_as_a_filler(self):
-        self.assertEqual(__, self.empty_method())
+        self.assertEqual(None, self.empty_method())
 
     def test_pass_does_nothing_at_all(self):
         "You"
         "shall"
         "not"
         pass
-        self.assertEqual(____, "Still got to this line" != None)
+        self.assertEqual(True, "Still got to this line" != None)
 
     # ------------------------------------------------------------------
 
     def one_line_method(self): return 'Madagascar'
 
     def test_no_indentation_required_for_one_line_statement_bodies(self):
-        self.assertEqual(__, self.one_line_method())
+        self.assertEqual('Madagascar', self.one_line_method())
 
     # ------------------------------------------------------------------
 
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ def method_with_documentation(self):
         return "ok"
 
     def test_the_documentation_can_be_viewed_with_the_doc_method(self):
-        self.assertMatch(__, self.method_with_documentation.__doc__)
+        self.assertMatch("A string placed at the beginning of a function is used for documentation", self.method_with_documentation.__doc__)
 
     # ------------------------------------------------------------------
 
@@ -144,13 +144,13 @@ def __password(self):
 
     def test_calling_methods_in_other_objects(self):
         rover = self.Dog()
-        self.assertEqual(__, rover.name())
+        self.assertEqual("Fido", rover.name())
 
     def test_private_access_is_implied_but_not_enforced(self):
         rover = self.Dog()
 
         # This is a little rude, but legal
-        self.assertEqual(__, rover._tail())
+        self.assertEqual("wagging", rover._tail())
 
     def test_double_underscore_attribute_prefixes_cause_name_mangling(self):
         """Attributes names that start with a double underscore get
@@ -160,10 +160,10 @@ def test_double_underscore_attribute_prefixes_cause_name_mangling(self):
             #This may not be possible...
             password = rover.__password()
         except Exception as ex:
-            self.assertEqual(__, ex.__class__.__name__)
+            self.assertEqual("AttributeError", ex.__class__.__name__)
 
         # But this still is!
-        self.assertEqual(__, rover._Dog__password())
+        self.assertEqual('password', rover._Dog__password())
 
         # Name mangling exists to avoid name clash issues when subclassing.
         # It is not for providing effective access protection
diff --git a/python2/koans/about_none.py b/python2/koans/about_none.py
index e64164dbd..498da5cee 100644
--- a/python2/koans/about_none.py
+++ b/python2/koans/about_none.py
@@ -12,11 +12,11 @@ class AboutNone(Koan):
 
     def test_none_is_an_object(self):
         "Unlike NULL in a lot of languages"
-        self.assertEqual(__, isinstance(None, object))
+        self.assertEqual(True, isinstance(None, object))
 
     def test_none_is_universal(self):
         "There is only one None"
-        self.assertEqual(__, None is None)
+        self.assertEqual(True, None is None)
 
     def test_what_exception_do_you_get_when_calling_nonexistent_methods(self):
         """
@@ -37,15 +37,15 @@ def test_what_exception_do_you_get_when_calling_nonexistent_methods(self):
             # Need a recap on how to evaluate __class__ attributes?
             #   https://github.com/gregmalcolm/python_koans/wiki/Class-Attribute
 
-            self.assertEqual(__, ex.__class__)
+            self.assertEqual(AttributeError, ex.__class__)
 
             # What message was attached to the exception?
             # (HINT: replace __ with part of the error message.)
-            self.assertMatch(__, ex.args[0])
+            self.assertMatch("'NoneType' object has no attribute 'some_method_none_does_not_know_about'", ex.args[0])
 
     def test_none_is_distinct(self):
         """
         None is distinct from other things which are False.
         """
-        self.assertEqual(____, None is not 0)
-        self.assertEqual(____, None is not False)
+        self.assertEqual(True, None is not 0)
+        self.assertEqual(True, None is not False)
diff --git a/python2/koans/about_string_manipulation.py b/python2/koans/about_string_manipulation.py
index c395309cc..30e9d62b7 100644
--- a/python2/koans/about_string_manipulation.py
+++ b/python2/koans/about_string_manipulation.py
@@ -10,13 +10,13 @@ def test_use_format_to_interpolate_variables(self):
         value1 = 'one'
         value2 = 2
         string = "The values are {0} and {1}".format(value1, value2)
-        self.assertEqual(__, string)
+        self.assertEqual("The values are one and 2", string)
 
     def test_formatted_values_can_be_shown_in_any_order_or_be_repeated(self):
         value1 = 'doh'
         value2 = 'DOH'
         string = "The values are {1}, {0}, {0} and {1}!".format(value1, value2)
-        self.assertEqual(__, string)
+        self.assertEqual("The values are DOH, doh, doh and DOH!", string)
 
     def test_any_python_expression_may_be_interpolated(self):
         import math  # import a standard python module with math functions
@@ -24,24 +24,24 @@ def test_any_python_expression_may_be_interpolated(self):
         decimal_places = 4
         string = "The square root of 5 is {0:.{1}f}".format(math.sqrt(5), \
             decimal_places)
-        self.assertEqual(__, string)
+        self.assertEqual("The square root of 5 is 2.2361", string)
 
     def test_you_can_get_a_substring_from_a_string(self):
         string = "Bacon, lettuce and tomato"
-        self.assertEqual(__, string[7:10])
+        self.assertEqual("let", string[7:10])
 
     def test_you_can_get_a_single_character_from_a_string(self):
         string = "Bacon, lettuce and tomato"
-        self.assertEqual(__, string[1])
+        self.assertEqual("a", string[1])
 
     def test_single_characters_can_be_represented_by_integers(self):
-        self.assertEqual(__, ord('a'))
-        self.assertEqual(__, ord('b') == (ord('a') + 1))
+        self.assertEqual(97, ord('a'))
+        self.assertEqual(True, ord('b') == (ord('a') + 1))
 
     def test_strings_can_be_split(self):
         string = "Sausage Egg Cheese"
         words = string.split()
-        self.assertEqual([__, __, __], words)
+        self.assertEqual(["Sausage", "Egg", "Cheese"], words)
 
     def test_strings_can_be_split_with_different_patterns(self):
         import re  # import python regular expression library
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ def test_strings_can_be_split_with_different_patterns(self):
 
         words = pattern.split(string)
 
-        self.assertEqual([__, __, __, __], words)
+        self.assertEqual(["the","rain","in","spain"], words)
 
         # `pattern` is a Python regular expression pattern which matches
         # ',' or ';'
@@ -59,18 +59,18 @@ def test_strings_can_be_split_with_different_patterns(self):
     def test_raw_strings_do_not_interpret_escape_characters(self):
         string = r'\n'
         self.assertNotEqual('\n', string)
-        self.assertEqual(__, string)
-        self.assertEqual(__, len(string))
+        self.assertEqual(r'\n', string)
+        self.assertEqual(2, len(string))
 
         # Useful in regular expressions, file paths, URLs, etc.
 
     def test_strings_can_be_joined(self):
         words = ["Now", "is", "the", "time"]
-        self.assertEqual(__, ' '.join(words))
+        self.assertEqual("Now is the time", ' '.join(words))
 
     def test_strings_can_change_case(self):
-        self.assertEqual(__, 'guido'.capitalize())
-        self.assertEqual(__, 'guido'.upper())
-        self.assertEqual(__, 'TimBot'.lower())
-        self.assertEqual(__, 'guido van rossum'.title())
-        self.assertEqual(__, 'ToTaLlY aWeSoMe'.swapcase())
+        self.assertEqual("Guido", 'guido'.capitalize())
+        self.assertEqual("GUIDO", 'guido'.upper())
+        self.assertEqual("timbot", 'TimBot'.lower())
+        self.assertEqual("Guido Van Rossum", 'guido van rossum'.title())
+        self.assertEqual("tOtAlLy AwEsOmE", 'ToTaLlY aWeSoMe'.swapcase())
diff --git a/python2/koans/about_strings.py b/python2/koans/about_strings.py
index abfcf5981..eb271d02a 100644
--- a/python2/koans/about_strings.py
+++ b/python2/koans/about_strings.py
@@ -8,88 +8,88 @@ class AboutStrings(Koan):
 
     def test_double_quoted_strings_are_strings(self):
         string = "Hello, world."
-        self.assertEqual(__, isinstance(string, basestring))
+        self.assertEqual(True, isinstance(string, basestring))
 
     def test_single_quoted_strings_are_also_strings(self):
         string = 'Goodbye, world.'
-        self.assertEqual(__, isinstance(string, basestring))
+        self.assertEqual(True, isinstance(string, basestring))
 
     def test_triple_quote_strings_are_also_strings(self):
         string = """Howdy, world!"""
-        self.assertEqual(__, isinstance(string, basestring))
+        self.assertEqual(True, isinstance(string, basestring))
 
     def test_triple_single_quotes_work_too(self):
         string = '''Bonjour tout le monde!'''
-        self.assertEqual(__, isinstance(string, basestring))
+        self.assertEqual(True, isinstance(string, basestring))
 
     def test_raw_strings_are_also_strings(self):
         string = r"Konnichi wa, world!"
-        self.assertEqual(__, isinstance(string, basestring))
+        self.assertEqual(True, isinstance(string, basestring))
 
     def test_use_single_quotes_to_create_string_with_double_quotes(self):
         string = 'He said, "Go Away."'
-        self.assertEqual(__, string)
+        self.assertEqual('He said, "Go Away."', string)
 
     def test_use_double_quotes_to_create_strings_with_single_quotes(self):
         string = "Don't"
-        self.assertEqual(__, string)
+        self.assertEqual("Don't", string)
 
     def test_use_backslash_for_escaping_quotes_in_strings(self):
         a = "He said, \"Don't\""
         b = 'He said, "Don\'t"'
-        self.assertEqual(__, (a == b))
+        self.assertEqual(True, (a == b))
 
     def test_use_backslash_at_the_end_of_a_line_to_continue_onto_the_next_line(self):
         string = "It was the best of times,\n\
 It was the worst of times."
-        self.assertEqual(__, len(string))
+        self.assertEqual(52, len(string))
 
     def test_triple_quoted_strings_can_span_lines(self):
         string = """
 Howdy,
 world!
 """
-        self.assertEqual(__, len(string))
+        self.assertEqual(15, len(string))
 
     def test_triple_quoted_strings_need_less_escaping(self):
         a = "Hello \"world\"."
         b = """Hello "world"."""
-        self.assertEqual(__, (a == b))
+        self.assertEqual(True, (a == b))
 
     def test_escaping_quotes_at_the_end_of_triple_quoted_string(self):
         string = """Hello "world\""""
-        self.assertEqual(__, string)
+        self.assertEqual('Hello "world"', string)
 
     def test_plus_concatenates_strings(self):
         string = "Hello, " + "world"
-        self.assertEqual(__, string)
+        self.assertEqual("Hello, world", string)
 
     def test_adjacent_strings_are_concatenated_automatically(self):
         string = "Hello" ", " "world"
-        self.assertEqual(__, string)
+        self.assertEqual("Hello, world", string)
 
     def test_plus_will_not_modify_original_strings(self):
         hi = "Hello, "
         there = "world"
         string = hi + there
-        self.assertEqual(__, hi)
-        self.assertEqual(__, there)
+        self.assertEqual("Hello, ", hi)
+        self.assertEqual("world", there)
 
     def test_plus_equals_will_append_to_end_of_string(self):
         hi = "Hello, "
         there = "world"
         hi += there
-        self.assertEqual(__, hi)
+        self.assertEqual("Hello, world", hi)
 
     def test_plus_equals_also_leaves_original_string_unmodified(self):
         original = "Hello, "
         hi = original
         there = "world"
         hi += there
-        self.assertEqual(__, original)
+        self.assertEqual("Hello, ", original)
 
     def test_most_strings_interpret_escape_characters(self):
         string = "\n"
         self.assertEqual('\n', string)
         self.assertEqual("""\n""", string)
-        self.assertEqual(__, len(string))
+        self.assertEqual(1, len(string))
diff --git a/python2/koans/about_tuples.py b/python2/koans/about_tuples.py
index 84ba5d552..c8277d84f 100644
--- a/python2/koans/about_tuples.py
+++ b/python2/koans/about_tuples.py
@@ -7,14 +7,14 @@
 class AboutTuples(Koan):
     def test_creating_a_tuple(self):
         count_of_three = (1, 2, 5)
-        self.assertEqual(__, count_of_three[2])
+        self.assertEqual(5, count_of_three[2])
 
     def test_tuples_are_immutable_so_item_assignment_is_not_possible(self):
         count_of_three = (1, 2, 5)
         try:
             count_of_three[2] = "three"
         except TypeError as ex:
-            self.assertMatch(__, ex[0])
+            self.assertMatch("'tuple' object does not support item assignment", ex[0])
 
     def test_tuples_are_immutable_so_appending_is_not_possible(self):
         count_of_three = (1, 2, 5)
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ def test_tuples_are_immutable_so_appending_is_not_possible(self):
 
             # Note, assertMatch() uses regular expression pattern matching,
             # so you don't have to copy the whole message.
-            self.assertMatch(__, ex[0])
+            self.assertMatch("'tuple' object has no attribute 'append'", ex[0])
 
         # Tuples are less flexible than lists, but faster.
 
@@ -36,25 +36,25 @@ def test_tuples_can_only_be_changed_through_replacement(self):
         list_count.append("boom")
         count_of_three = tuple(list_count)
 
-        self.assertEqual(__, count_of_three)
+        self.assertEqual((1,2,5,"boom"), count_of_three)
 
     def test_tuples_of_one_look_peculiar(self):
-        self.assertEqual(__, (1).__class__)
-        self.assertEqual(__, (1,).__class__)
-        self.assertEqual(__, ("Hello comma!", ))
+        self.assertEqual(int, (1).__class__)
+        self.assertEqual(tuple, (1,).__class__)
+        self.assertEqual(("Hello comma!",), ("Hello comma!", ))
 
     def test_tuple_constructor_can_be_surprising(self):
-        self.assertEqual(__, tuple("Surprise!"))
+        self.assertEqual(("S", "u", "r", "p", "r", "i", "s", "e", "!"), tuple("Surprise!"))
 
     def test_creating_empty_tuples(self):
-        self.assertEqual(__, ())
-        self.assertEqual(__, tuple())  # Sometimes less confusing
+        self.assertEqual((), ())
+        self.assertEqual((), tuple())  # Sometimes less confusing
 
     def test_tuples_can_be_embedded(self):
         lat = (37, 14, 6, 'N')
         lon = (115, 48, 40, 'W')
         place = ('Area 51', lat, lon)
-        self.assertEqual(__, place)
+        self.assertEqual(('Area 51', (37, 14, 6, 'N'), (115, 48, 40, 'W')), place)
 
     def test_tuples_are_good_for_representing_records(self):
         locations = [
@@ -66,5 +66,5 @@ def test_tuples_are_good_for_representing_records(self):
             ("Cthulhu", (26, 40, 1, 'N'), (70, 45, 7, 'W'))
         )
 
-        self.assertEqual(__, locations[2][0])
-        self.assertEqual(__, locations[0][1][2])
+        self.assertEqual("Cthulhu", locations[2][0])
+        self.assertEqual(15.56, locations[0][1][2])