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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. According to Brooks at the beginning of Chapter 1, where does all the furniture of the upper class liberal group come from?
(a) Crate and Barrel.
(b) Ikea.
(c) Pier One.
(d) Ethan Allen.

2. What book about Classical culture does Ms. Taylor give to Harold in Chapter 6?
(a) The Greek Way.
(b) Memoirs of Hadrian.
(c) Meditations.
(d) I, Claudius.

3. What is Ms. Taylor's tactic for making children learn?
(a) She pays them.
(b) She teaches them to take pleasure in it.
(c) She drills information into them.
(d) She uses references to popular culture.

4. At the beginning of the introduction, Brooks assures the reader that his protagonists are not what?
(a) Heroes.
(b) Socialists.
(c) Geniuses.
(d) Politicians.

5. According to Brooks in Chapter 1, what surprises all people when they meet a possible mate?
(a) How little most people know about politics.
(b) How much they have in common.
(c) How everyone orders the same first meal.
(d) How difficult it is to seduce someone.

6. What essential activity do Rob and Julie disagree on in Chapter 2?
(a) Driving habits.
(b) Which newspaper to read.
(c) Setting the table.
(d) Hanging toilet paper.

7. Whose parents are Rob and Julia?
(a) Hostadter.
(b) David Brooks.
(c) Harold.
(d) Erica.

8. According to Brooks in Chapter 1, everyone likes to believe that he/she is what?
(a) Compassionate.
(b) Sly.
(c) Self-decrecating.
(d) Unique.

9. In Chapter 5, Brooks states that there is little connection between a child's ability to complete homework and what?
(a) His IQ.
(b) His success on tests.
(c) His earning potential.
(d) His behavioral patterns.

10. What idea for a topic does Harold come up with his first night of writing?
(a) He narrows down his topics to two.
(b) He decides to focus on Odysseus.
(c) He decides to focus on the idea of honor.
(d) He comes up with no ideas.

11. In Chapter 3, Julia calls Harold half cupid, half what?
(a) Storm trooper.
(b) Professor.
(c) Black hole.
(d) Lord Fontleroy.

12. At the end of Chapter 5, what regular event is a constant trauma in Harold's life?
(a) Taking a bath.
(b) His parents' doing out.
(c) Visiting friends' houses.
(d) Going to school on Monday.

13. How many neuron connections does a child make between the ages of two and three?
(a) 15,000.
(b) 4,000.
(c) 1,000
(d) 45,000

14. What does Brooks say his day job is in the introduction?
(a) Speaking on television.
(b) Writing about politics.
(c) Teaching.
(d) Giving paid lectures.

15. What does Ms. Taylor want to match each student to?
(a) A life goal.
(b) A book.
(c) A lover.
(d) A perfect song.

Short Answer Questions

1. According to Brooks in his introduction, what is different about his book compared to the other social science books published in recent years?

2. What subject did John Bowlby focus on in addition to children?

3. What is the story Julia tells Harold in Chapter 5 about?

4. In the introduction, where does Brooks say the majority of thinking takes place?

5. Why are Rob and Julia concerned at the end of Chapter 4?

(see the answer keys)

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