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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 does Jensen's nine-year-old friend notice that Jensen didn't?

2. How many people speak out against violence in disciplining children on the radio talk show that Jensen listens to?

3. About what animal does Jensen dream?

4. What does Jensen say that trees do when they are cut down?

5. What question does Jensen want answered while he is in school?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Jensen say that economics textbooks should be written in blood?

2. According to Jensen, what is the purpose of silencing?

3. What does Jensen's nine-year-old friend tell him about the bushes in his yard?

4. What role do the stars play in Jensen's life?

5. How does Jensen come to be high jumping?

6. Describe one of the ways in which Jensen says that humans justify their actions even if these actions are cruel or make no sense.

7. According to Jensen, what is the role of heroes?

8. How do the Semai resolve their arguments?

9. In what way is high jumping therapeutic for Jensen?

10. What does Jensen wonder about the ladybug pupae feel?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Consider the idea in the chapter entitled "Violence" that by not killing the goose earlier Jensen caused two deaths. How responsible do you feel that Jensen is for the death of the hen? Is he just as guilty as the goose? How does this idea translate into the idea of criminals set free to kill, rape or steal again? Are those who set him free just as guilty as the criminal?

Essay Topic 2

Consider the idea that there is no quick answer to the problems that affect the world. What is your opinion of Jensen's three reasons that he cannot suggest a quick fix to heal the world? Do you agree with his assessments? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the idea of silencing as introduced by Jensen in the first chapter of his book. Do you believe he is correct in his interpretation of the way humans behave? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 743 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample