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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. What Greek term becomes the topic of Harold's paper in Chapter 6?

2. According to Brooks at the beginning of Chapter 1, what is never found in the homes of the upper-class group?

3. In the Introduction, Brooks laments that most social policy is based on what understanding of humanity?

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

5. In Chapter 3, what does Brooks show that neurons do when we are near someone we are bonded to socially?

Short Essay Questions

1. What great skill does Harold have in high school?

2. What is Brooks' stated political reason for writing "The Social Animal"?

3. How is Brooks' book different from other social studies?

4. What wisdom about teaching teenagers does Ms. Taylor possess?

5. What are mirror neurons?

6. What does Damasio determine about living without emotion in Chapter 1?

7. Describe young Harold's relationship with falling things.

8. How does Brooks use the meeting of Julia and Rob to illustrate the surprise of similarities?

9. How does Ms. Taylor shape Harold's interest in the classical world?

10. How does Brooks describe the day-to-day life of the Composure Class?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Throughout "The Social Animal", David Brooks explains the unconscious processes that are involved in the choice of a sexual mate. Write a three-part essay about these processes:

Part 1) What processes do both Rob and Julia go through when they first meet each other? Why are they attracted to one another? Discuss how the two make unconscious choices as they have dinner together for the first time.

Part 2) Discuss the meeting and initial relationship between Harold and Erica. What is the nature of this relationship, and how does Erica work to maintain this stasis? What changes occur that allow it to develop romantically?

Part 3) Discuss the subconscious processes that lead Erica to sleep with Mr. Make-Believe. What does she feel about this tryst as it occurs, and how does her subconscious mind react to it after the fact?

Essay Topic 2

In their travails and life-journeys, Harold and Erica face challenges brought on by incompetence in others. Write an essay about two characters who represent significant failings in the way systems function? How does this person manage and interact with others? How do the protagonists deal with this individual?

Part 1) Harrison

Part 2) Taggert

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay about Raymond. What role does he have at Intercom when Erica meets him? How does his history with the company give him a unique understanding of its failings under Taggert? Explore his relationship with Erica. What does he teach her about how to relate with other people and how to lead a group? What non-quantitative skills does he display in his dealings with the brunch club?

(see the answer keys)

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