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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Chapter 9, Democracy, Chapter 10, Americans.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Why is the "pretty man" hated?
(a) The pretty man is almost universally also very dumb.
(b) The pretty man reminds us of all of our own faults.
(c) Women care less for beauty than men do.
(d) Women are jealous of pretty men.

2. How intelligent are women according to Mencken?
(a) They pretend to be intelligent, but deep down are quite stupid.
(b) They are completely stupid in thought and deed.
(c) They pretend to be dumb, but are in fact quite intelligent.
(d) They are usually much more intelligent than men.

3. What is the consequence of someone believing in God, according to Mencken in Chapter 1?
(a) That person must be prepared to suffer eternal damnation for believing in the wrong god.
(b) That person must ascribe all of Man's faults to God as well.
(c) That person must pray on a daily basis.
(d) That person must make offerings to his or her God.

4. What is the "altruist" motivated by?
(a) Out and out greed.
(b) A selfish sense of self-worth.
(c) A divine inspiration.
(d) Being uncomfortable with unhappy people around him or her.

5. What is Mencken's belief about the concept of sin?
(a) Sin is a made-up term, and does not really exist.
(b) Sin is real, and exists all around us.
(c) Sin is just another word for good deed; it's all relative.
(d) Sin is the reason why children are born.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who rules American culture, according to Chapter 10?

2. How has Mencken organized his book?

3. Which is NOT one of Mencken's view of humankind as expressed in Chapter 1?

4. What does Mencken believe about the universality of morality?

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

(see the answer key)

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