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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. How did Eliot meet the man who would become her life-long partner?

2. In which work of Eliot's did she write of her disdain for "men of maxims"?

3. Where did Eliot travel on July 20, 1854?

4. How did his wife's death change Marshall's approach to life?

5. What disgusted Marshall about President Roosevelt's reaction to his news that plans for the North African invasion during WWII was ready?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did Marshall win over his classmates at VMI?

2. What kind of attitude did Marshall have towards institutions, according to Brooks?

3. What sect's teachings did Augustine initially follow and then renounce?

4. How did George Marshall humiliate his father when he was a young boy?

5. Why did Marshall lose the job of commander of the allied forces in Europe in 1943 to Eisenhower?

6. What was the surprising outcome of Marshall's tense encounter with General Pershing in 1917?

7. What was the main social consequence of Eliot's relationship with Lewes?

8. What significant event in 1941 was A. Philip Randolph instrumental in organizing, but eventually called off?

9. How did Virginia Woolf characterize Eliot's work?

10. In what ways were Eliot and George Lewes well-matched as a couple?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Chapter 5, Brooks describes George Marshall's incentive to excel in school as having its roots in proving his brother's insults about Marshall's lack of intelligence and ability wrong. Write an essay exploring how Brooks uses many specific, intimate details about Marshall's college years at VMI and his early career to endear Marshall to readers and to provide a vivid picture of his character and his life.

Essay Topic 2

Why does Brooks think that the common commencement address advice for graduates to follow their passion is flawed? Write an essay explaining your answer, citing specific references to the text to support your arguments (21).

Essay Topic 3

How did Samuel Johnson's childhood illnesses, scars, and ordeals contribute to his core character traits and attitudes, according to Brooks? Write an essay explaining your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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