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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does the "metaphysical" type of person inevitably do?
(a) Becomes paralyzed with fear over the enormity of the universe.
(b) Demands to know what you mean, even when it is obvious.
(c) Tips their hat for no reason.
(d) Begs for spare change.

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

3. How does Mencken describe President Coolidge?
(a) His life was marred by continual misfortune.
(b) He was a typical American.
(c) He was reserved and agnostic.
(d) He was an orator of great skill and emotive power.

4. What is Mencken's opinion of the belief that man has a soul, according to Chapter 1?
(a) The notion of a soul is humanity's one bright spot.
(b) The notion of a soul is simple, but still very relevant today.
(c) The notion of a soul has led to unprecedented successes in philosophy and elsewhere.
(d) The notion of a soul has failed to result in more people acting like God.

5. 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 creates several difficulties for morality.
(c) Free will is the cause as well as the effect of morality.
(d) Free will has no relationship to morality.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why is the culture of the United States deficient, according to Chapter 10?

2. What kind of people are most often forgotten by historical records, per Chapter 12?

3. What is Mencken's opinion of original Christians?

4. What is Mencken's hope for democracy?

5. What does Mencken NOT believe about the possibility for morality to change over time?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Mencken's view of punishment for crime? What is the function of punishment?

2. What does Mencken believe about the nature of man and God? What is the consequence for believing in God? What about the soul?

3. Per Chapter 2, describe Mencken's summation of the following types of people: the romantic, the believer, the metaphysician, and the altruist.

4. What is Mencken's opinion of government? What is the role of government? Is one system of government preferable to another?

5. What is the degree of women's "civility" according to Mencken? How does emotion factor in to civility?

6. In Chapter 1, how does Mencken's view of humanity coincide with that of the modern scientist?

7. What is democracy's fundamental flaw? What aspect of human nature motivates democracy?

8. What effect did the Civil War have on the American South, and why was this conflict so disastrous to Mencken from a cultural standpoint?

9. What does Mencken feel about the relationship between science and religion?

10. Who is Professor Thorstein Veblen, and what is Mencken's opinion of him and his work?

(see the answer keys)

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