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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. Which contemporary author does Mencken compare to Edgar Allan Poe because of his taste for the macabre?
(a) Ring Lardner.
(b) James Huneker.
(c) Hamlin Garland.
(d) Ambrose Bierce.

2. Who did the Black Plague mostly kill off, according to Mencken?
(a) Monarchs of high intelligence.
(b) Proletarians of low intelligence.
(c) Proletarians of high intelligence.
(d) Monarchs of low intelligence.

3. What is the usual relationship between an artist and his countrymen?
(a) The artist is at odds with his community.
(b) The artist is in perfect harmony with the community.
(c) The artist works for the community.
(d) The artist has no relationship to his community.

4. What is Mencken's central critique for socialism?
(a) It does not go far enough to redistribute wealth.
(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 is a noble idea, but it has not been instituted correctly.

5. What was Roosevelt's team of political advisers popularly called?
(a) The Brain Trust.
(b) The Washington Eggheads.
(c) The Brooklyn Thirteen.
(d) Roosevelt's Riveters.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is Mencken's view of chiropractors?

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

3. Which classical composer could not "write for the mob"?

4. Who was the father of the American short story?

5. Why is music difficult as a trade?

Short Essay Questions

1. In an editorial dated October, 1928, Mencken discusses schoolboys. Summarize this article. What suggestions does Mencken have for improving education?

2. What is Mencken's opinion of the music of Johann Strauss? Why wasn't Strauss' music more well-received in America?

3. What is Mencken's opinion of the teaching profession? How does he compare and contrast teaching styles of his schoolboy days to today?

4. What is Mencken's opinion of Prohibition? What was its effect on society?

5. What does Mencken believe about contemporary new inventions? Mention the telephone as well as the thermostat in your response.

6. Why does Mencken make mention of Sister Aimee? Who was Sister Aimee, and what was Mencken's opinion of her?

7. In Chapter 19, Mencken discusses science. Discuss his views of a) the scientific hypothesis, b) Charles Darwin, and c) Mr. Ayres' and his philosophy.

8. Summarize Mencken's account of the Scopes Monkey Trial and his impression of the town of Dayton, Tennessee.

9. What is Mencken's own philosophy of psychology? What does he feel forms the basis of human psychology?

10. What is Mencken's belief about American millionaires?

(see the answer keys)

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