diff --git a/Lib/distutils/tests/test_archive_util.py b/Lib/distutils/tests/test_archive_util.py
index 1afdd462254..d3fb24ad562 100644
--- a/Lib/distutils/tests/test_archive_util.py
+++ b/Lib/distutils/tests/test_archive_util.py
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ class ArchiveUtilTestCase(support.TempdirManager,
                              dry_run=True)
         finally:
             os.chdir(old_dir)
-        self.assertTrue(not os.path.exists(tarball))
+        self.assertFalse(os.path.exists(tarball))
         self.assertEqual(len(w.warnings), 1)
 
     @unittest.skipUnless(ZIP_SUPPORT and ZLIB_SUPPORT,
diff --git a/Lib/distutils/tests/test_bdist_rpm.py b/Lib/distutils/tests/test_bdist_rpm.py
index b090b79e0c4..aa1445d10aa 100644
--- a/Lib/distutils/tests/test_bdist_rpm.py
+++ b/Lib/distutils/tests/test_bdist_rpm.py
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ class BuildRpmTestCase(support.TempdirManager,
         cmd.run()
 
         dist_created = os.listdir(os.path.join(pkg_dir, 'dist'))
-        self.assertTrue('foo-0.1-1.noarch.rpm' in dist_created)
+        self.assertIn('foo-0.1-1.noarch.rpm', dist_created)
 
         # bug #2945: upload ignores bdist_rpm files
         self.assertIn(('bdist_rpm', 'any', 'dist/foo-0.1-1.src.rpm'), dist.dist_files)
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ class BuildRpmTestCase(support.TempdirManager,
         cmd.run()
 
         dist_created = os.listdir(os.path.join(pkg_dir, 'dist'))
-        self.assertTrue('foo-0.1-1.noarch.rpm' in dist_created)
+        self.assertIn('foo-0.1-1.noarch.rpm', dist_created)
 
         # bug #2945: upload ignores bdist_rpm files
         self.assertIn(('bdist_rpm', 'any', 'dist/foo-0.1-1.src.rpm'), dist.dist_files)
diff --git a/Lib/distutils/tests/test_bdist_wininst.py b/Lib/distutils/tests/test_bdist_wininst.py
index f9e8f89e21d..5d17ab19a9d 100644
--- a/Lib/distutils/tests/test_bdist_wininst.py
+++ b/Lib/distutils/tests/test_bdist_wininst.py
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ class BuildWinInstTestCase(support.TempdirManager,
         # and make sure it finds it and returns its content
         # no matter what platform we have
         exe_file = cmd.get_exe_bytes()
-        self.assertTrue(len(exe_file) > 10)
+        self.assertGreater(len(exe_file), 10)
 
 def test_suite():
     return unittest.makeSuite(BuildWinInstTestCase)
diff --git a/Lib/distutils/tests/test_build_clib.py b/Lib/distutils/tests/test_build_clib.py
index ee1c04162b4..c2b981f20eb 100644
--- a/Lib/distutils/tests/test_build_clib.py
+++ b/Lib/distutils/tests/test_build_clib.py
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ class BuildCLibTestCase(support.TempdirManager,
         cmd.run()
 
         # let's check the result
-        self.assertTrue('libfoo.a' in os.listdir(build_temp))
+        self.assertIn('libfoo.a', os.listdir(build_temp))
 
 def test_suite():
     return unittest.makeSuite(BuildCLibTestCase)
diff --git a/Lib/distutils/tests/test_build_ext.py b/Lib/distutils/tests/test_build_ext.py
index 44a9852f4cd..3cfaa2c6928 100644
--- a/Lib/distutils/tests/test_build_ext.py
+++ b/Lib/distutils/tests/test_build_ext.py
@@ -76,8 +76,8 @@ class BuildExtTestCase(TempdirManager,
         if support.HAVE_DOCSTRINGS:
             doc = 'This is a template module just for instruction.'
             self.assertEqual(xx.__doc__, doc)
-        self.assertTrue(isinstance(xx.Null(), xx.Null))
-        self.assertTrue(isinstance(xx.Str(), xx.Str))
+        self.assertIsInstance(xx.Null(), xx.Null)
+        self.assertIsInstance(xx.Str(), xx.Str)
 
     def tearDown(self):
         # Get everything back to normal
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ class BuildExtTestCase(TempdirManager,
                 _config_vars['Py_ENABLE_SHARED'] = old_var
 
         # make sure we get some library dirs under solaris
-        self.assertTrue(len(cmd.library_dirs) > 0)
+        self.assertGreater(len(cmd.library_dirs), 0)
 
     def test_user_site(self):
         # site.USER_SITE was introduced in 2.6
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ class BuildExtTestCase(TempdirManager,
         # making sure the user option is there
         options = [name for name, short, lable in
                    cmd.user_options]
-        self.assertTrue('user' in options)
+        self.assertIn('user', options)
 
         # setting a value
         cmd.user = 1
@@ -171,10 +171,10 @@ class BuildExtTestCase(TempdirManager,
 
         from distutils import sysconfig
         py_include = sysconfig.get_python_inc()
-        self.assertTrue(py_include in cmd.include_dirs)
+        self.assertIn(py_include, cmd.include_dirs)
 
         plat_py_include = sysconfig.get_python_inc(plat_specific=1)
-        self.assertTrue(plat_py_include in cmd.include_dirs)
+        self.assertIn(plat_py_include, cmd.include_dirs)
 
         # make sure cmd.libraries is turned into a list
         # if it's a string
@@ -255,13 +255,13 @@ class BuildExtTestCase(TempdirManager,
                              'some': 'bar'})]
         cmd.check_extensions_list(exts)
         ext = exts[0]
-        self.assertTrue(isinstance(ext, Extension))
+        self.assertIsInstance(ext, Extension)
 
         # check_extensions_list adds in ext the values passed
         # when they are in ('include_dirs', 'library_dirs', 'libraries'
         # 'extra_objects', 'extra_compile_args', 'extra_link_args')
         self.assertEqual(ext.libraries, 'foo')
-        self.assertTrue(not hasattr(ext, 'some'))
+        self.assertFalse(hasattr(ext, 'some'))
 
         # 'macros' element of build info dict must be 1- or 2-tuple
         exts = [('foo.bar', {'sources': [''], 'libraries': 'foo',
diff --git a/Lib/distutils/tests/test_build_scripts.py b/Lib/distutils/tests/test_build_scripts.py
index e3326b85176..954fc763987 100644
--- a/Lib/distutils/tests/test_build_scripts.py
+++ b/Lib/distutils/tests/test_build_scripts.py
@@ -17,8 +17,8 @@ class BuildScriptsTestCase(support.TempdirManager,
 
     def test_default_settings(self):
         cmd = self.get_build_scripts_cmd("/foo/bar", [])
-        self.assertTrue(not cmd.force)
-        self.assertTrue(cmd.build_dir is None)
+        self.assertFalse(cmd.force)
+        self.assertIsNone(cmd.build_dir)
 
         cmd.finalize_options()
 
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ class BuildScriptsTestCase(support.TempdirManager,
 
         built = os.listdir(target)
         for name in expected:
-            self.assertTrue(name in built)
+            self.assertIn(name, built)
 
     def get_build_scripts_cmd(self, target, scripts):
         import sys
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ class BuildScriptsTestCase(support.TempdirManager,
 
         built = os.listdir(target)
         for name in expected:
-            self.assertTrue(name in built)
+            self.assertIn(name, built)
 
 def test_suite():
     return unittest.makeSuite(BuildScriptsTestCase)
diff --git a/Lib/distutils/tests/test_clean.py b/Lib/distutils/tests/test_clean.py
index eb8958bff5a..b64f300a04e 100644
--- a/Lib/distutils/tests/test_clean.py
+++ b/Lib/distutils/tests/test_clean.py
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ class cleanTestCase(support.TempdirManager,
 
         # make sure the files where removed
         for name, path in dirs:
-            self.assertTrue(not os.path.exists(path),
+            self.assertFalse(os.path.exists(path),
                          '%s was not removed' % path)
 
         # let's run the command again (should spit warnings but succeed)
diff --git a/Lib/distutils/tests/test_config.py b/Lib/distutils/tests/test_config.py
index 525bee9416a..0e8d65e2715 100644
--- a/Lib/distutils/tests/test_config.py
+++ b/Lib/distutils/tests/test_config.py
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ class PyPIRCCommandTestCase(support.TempdirManager,
     def test_server_empty_registration(self):
         cmd = self._cmd(self.dist)
         rc = cmd._get_rc_file()
-        self.assertTrue(not os.path.exists(rc))
+        self.assertFalse(os.path.exists(rc))
         cmd._store_pypirc('tarek', 'xxx')
         self.assertTrue(os.path.exists(rc))
         f = open(rc)
diff --git a/Lib/distutils/tests/test_config_cmd.py b/Lib/distutils/tests/test_config_cmd.py
index e2e6e4ebaa2..79894c78d35 100644
--- a/Lib/distutils/tests/test_config_cmd.py
+++ b/Lib/distutils/tests/test_config_cmd.py
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ class ConfigTestCase(support.LoggingSilencer,
         cmd._clean(f1, f2)
 
         for f in (f1, f2):
-            self.assertTrue(not os.path.exists(f))
+            self.assertFalse(os.path.exists(f))
 
 def test_suite():
     return unittest.makeSuite(ConfigTestCase)
diff --git a/Lib/distutils/tests/test_install.py b/Lib/distutils/tests/test_install.py
index b1901273e9f..ede88e5d908 100644
--- a/Lib/distutils/tests/test_install.py
+++ b/Lib/distutils/tests/test_install.py
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ class InstallTestCase(support.TempdirManager,
                 self.test_record()
         finally:
             install_module.DEBUG = False
-        self.assertTrue(len(self.logs) > old_logs_len)
+        self.assertGreater(len(self.logs), old_logs_len)
 
 
 def test_suite():
diff --git a/Lib/distutils/tests/test_install_lib.py b/Lib/distutils/tests/test_install_lib.py
index 2bd4dc6e963..d0dfca00d75 100644
--- a/Lib/distutils/tests/test_install_lib.py
+++ b/Lib/distutils/tests/test_install_lib.py
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ class InstallLibTestCase(support.TempdirManager,
         finally:
             sys.dont_write_bytecode = old_dont_write_bytecode
 
-        self.assertTrue('byte-compiling is disabled' in self.logs[0][1])
+        self.assertIn('byte-compiling is disabled', self.logs[0][1])
 
 
 def test_suite():
diff --git a/Lib/distutils/tests/test_install_scripts.py b/Lib/distutils/tests/test_install_scripts.py
index 8952e744e5d..1f7b1038cb2 100644
--- a/Lib/distutils/tests/test_install_scripts.py
+++ b/Lib/distutils/tests/test_install_scripts.py
@@ -24,10 +24,10 @@ class InstallScriptsTestCase(support.TempdirManager,
             skip_build=1,
             )
         cmd = install_scripts(dist)
-        self.assertTrue(not cmd.force)
-        self.assertTrue(not cmd.skip_build)
-        self.assertTrue(cmd.build_dir is None)
-        self.assertTrue(cmd.install_dir is None)
+        self.assertFalse(cmd.force)
+        self.assertFalse(cmd.skip_build)
+        self.assertIsNone(cmd.build_dir)
+        self.assertIsNone(cmd.install_dir)
 
         cmd.finalize_options()
 
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ class InstallScriptsTestCase(support.TempdirManager,
 
         installed = os.listdir(target)
         for name in expected:
-            self.assertTrue(name in installed)
+            self.assertIn(name, installed)
 
 
 def test_suite():
diff --git a/Lib/distutils/tests/test_msvc9compiler.py b/Lib/distutils/tests/test_msvc9compiler.py
index 301d43d20c0..5e18c613603 100644
--- a/Lib/distutils/tests/test_msvc9compiler.py
+++ b/Lib/distutils/tests/test_msvc9compiler.py
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ class msvc9compilerTestCase(support.TempdirManager,
         # windows registeries versions.
         path = r'Control Panel\Desktop'
         v = Reg.get_value(path, 'dragfullwindows')
-        self.assertTrue(v in ('0', '1', '2'))
+        self.assertIn(v, ('0', '1', '2'))
 
         import winreg
         HKCU = winreg.HKEY_CURRENT_USER
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ class msvc9compilerTestCase(support.TempdirManager,
         self.assertEqual(keys, None)
 
         keys = Reg.read_keys(HKCU, r'Control Panel')
-        self.assertTrue('Desktop' in keys)
+        self.assertIn('Desktop', keys)
 
     def test_remove_visual_c_ref(self):
         from distutils.msvc9compiler import MSVCCompiler
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ class msvc9compilerTestCase(support.TempdirManager,
 
         compiler = MSVCCompiler()
         got = compiler._remove_visual_c_ref(manifest)
-        self.assertIs(got, None)
+        self.assertIsNone(got)
 
 
 def test_suite():
diff --git a/Lib/distutils/tests/test_register.py b/Lib/distutils/tests/test_register.py
index a86b8606e4e..f4efa13d789 100644
--- a/Lib/distutils/tests/test_register.py
+++ b/Lib/distutils/tests/test_register.py
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ class RegisterTestCase(PyPIRCCommandTestCase):
         cmd = self._get_cmd()
 
         # we shouldn't have a .pypirc file yet
-        self.assertTrue(not os.path.exists(self.rc))
+        self.assertFalse(os.path.exists(self.rc))
 
         # patching input and getpass.getpass
         # so register gets happy
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ class RegisterTestCase(PyPIRCCommandTestCase):
 
         self.assertEqual(req1['Content-length'], '1374')
         self.assertEqual(req2['Content-length'], '1374')
-        self.assertTrue((b'xxx') in self.conn.reqs[1].data)
+        self.assertIn(b'xxx', self.conn.reqs[1].data)
 
     def test_password_not_in_file(self):
 
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ class RegisterTestCase(PyPIRCCommandTestCase):
         req = self.conn.reqs[0]
         headers = dict(req.headers)
         self.assertEqual(headers['Content-length'], '608')
-        self.assertTrue((b'tarek') in req.data)
+        self.assertIn(b'tarek', req.data)
 
     def test_password_reset(self):
         # this test runs choice 3
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ class RegisterTestCase(PyPIRCCommandTestCase):
         req = self.conn.reqs[0]
         headers = dict(req.headers)
         self.assertEqual(headers['Content-length'], '290')
-        self.assertTrue((b'tarek') in req.data)
+        self.assertIn(b'tarek', req.data)
 
     @unittest.skipUnless(docutils is not None, 'needs docutils')
     def test_strict(self):
diff --git a/Lib/distutils/tests/test_sysconfig.py b/Lib/distutils/tests/test_sysconfig.py
index 826ea4247d2..07812d80fc4 100644
--- a/Lib/distutils/tests/test_sysconfig.py
+++ b/Lib/distutils/tests/test_sysconfig.py
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ class SysconfigTestCase(support.EnvironGuard,
 
     def test_get_config_vars(self):
         cvars = sysconfig.get_config_vars()
-        self.assertTrue(isinstance(cvars, dict))
+        self.assertIsInstance(cvars, dict)
         self.assertTrue(cvars)
 
     def test_srcdir(self):
diff --git a/Lib/distutils/tests/test_util.py b/Lib/distutils/tests/test_util.py
index eac9b5141d5..00219cfdbab 100644
--- a/Lib/distutils/tests/test_util.py
+++ b/Lib/distutils/tests/test_util.py
@@ -266,7 +266,7 @@ class UtilTestCase(support.EnvironGuard, unittest.TestCase):
             self.assertTrue(strtobool(y))
 
         for n in no:
-            self.assertTrue(not strtobool(n))
+            self.assertFalse(strtobool(n))
 
     def test_rfc822_escape(self):
         header = 'I am a\npoor\nlonesome\nheader\n'