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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Chapter 23, Souvenirs of a Journalist, Chapter 24, Criticism.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In Chapter 7, Mencken notes that there are too few books written about what subject?
(a) True crime.
(b) Taxes.
(c) Death.
(d) Women.

2. In the boxing match Mencken reports on in Chapter 23, why do most want the favorite boxer to lose?
(a) He had evaded service in World War I.
(b) He was drunk and hollering at the crowd.
(c) He had beaten his wife up the night before.
(d) He had been accused of taking steroids.

3. What is Mencken's central critique for socialism?
(a) It is a noble idea, but it has not been instituted correctly.
(b) The U.S. refuses to embrace Bolshevik-style socialism, which is the only socialism which has worked.
(c) It is incompatible with the facts of history.
(d) It does not go far enough to redistribute wealth.

4. How does Mencken define government?
(a) A collection of the looniest among us.
(b) A war on the poor.
(c) A dozen men who can't do anything right.
(d) A conspiracy against superior men.

5. How does Mencken react to a religious ceremony inside a basilica, as he recounts in Chapter 15?
(a) With joy.
(b) With intellectual curiosity.
(c) With disgust.
(d) With indifference.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is Mencken's opinion about the variety of political systems?

2. According to Chapter 16, which political system is responsible for the majority of civilization as we know it?

3. What quality makes for the best literary critic, according to Chapter 24?

4. In Chapter 15, Mencken expresses surprise that no one has violated the tomb of which man?

5. Sister Aimee was an evangelist in what branch of Christian religion?

(see the answer key)

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