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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. The author feels that all human beings are naturally what?

2. What is the drawback to the "visionary arts" mentioned in Appendix 3?

3. What happened to "pyrotechny" after the fall of Rome?

4. What is the name of the plant in which the substance being tested is found?

5. According to the author, in Appendix 2 what was the result of our ancestors' winter diets?

Short Essay Questions

1. What types of art have the most transportative properties, according to the author?

2. How and why has the diet of most people changed over time?

3. What personal story is related by the author concerning the second vision-inducing method in Appendix 1?

4. What are the advantages and disadvantages of the second vision-inducing method discussed in Appendix 1?

5. What experiment was conducted on the human brain by Penfield?

6. What is the author's view of heaven and hell, as described at the end of the second essay?

7. Why is the author eager to participate in the study of peyote and mescalin?

8. What does the author say about the history of fireworks, in Appendix 3?

9. According to the author, what is the role of psychics and mystics in the modern Western world, and why?

10. What other practices commonly incorporated into religious ceremonies produce results similar to the first vision-inducing method discussed in Appendix 1?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Huxley mentions the diminished role of psychics and visionaries in modern Western society. Why is this the case? Why are they still more prevalent in other societies? What changes occurred which brought about this situation? Do you agree with Huxley's opinion on psychics and visionaries?

Essay Topic 2

Huxley devotes an appendix to discussing the works of Gericault. Why are Gericault's works so important to Huxley? What does he experience when viewing Gericault's works? In what way do Gericault's paintings relate to the theme of visionary experiences?

Essay Topic 3

Huxley discusses the power of not only positive visionary experiences but also negative ones. What are some of the major differences between the two? What types of people are inclined to have positive or negative experiences? What happens to people when they have these sorts of experiences?

(see the answer keys)

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