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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Chapter 13, Statesmen, Chapter 14, American Immortals.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is the relationship between free will and morality?
(a) Free will and morality work hand in hand in a positive way.
(b) Free will has no relationship to morality.
(c) Free will creates several difficulties for morality.
(d) Free will is the cause as well as the effect of morality.

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

3. What was the most damning effect of the Civil War, in regard to the South?
(a) It introduced technology into an innocent and primitive society.
(b) It destroyed the Southern aristocracy.
(c) It replaced religious values with secular ones.
(d) It created the Southern aristocracy.

4. What is the fundamental flaw of the democratic style of government?
(a) The people are not competent to govern themselves.
(b) There are simply too many intelligent people to decide between.
(c) Over time, democracy resembles monarchy.
(d) Voting systems can never be 100% accurate.

5. How does Mencken describe Oliver Wendell Holmes?
(a) He was a tool of liberal elites.
(b) He was a brilliant reasoner.
(c) He was a tool of conservative fuddy-duddies.
(d) He was a completely inept United States Senator.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is Man's one unique characteristic, per Chapter 1?

2. Why is Mencken unable to embrace democratic political theory, as he himself states it in Chapter 9?

3. What effect has intermarriage had on the American South?

4. What kind of promises do politicians make?

5. Privately, politicians are what kind of people?

(see the answer key)

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