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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What did Thoreau say he never had on his walks?
(a) A companion.
(b) A destination.
(c) A purpose.
(d) A notebook.

2. What did Thoreau say he always did while walking while comparing himself to an animal?
(a) Observe.
(b) Pray.
(c) Ruminate.
(d) Meditate.

3. What did Brown seize in his attack?
(a) The capitol.
(b) The arsenal.
(c) The flotilla.
(d) The Confederate Army.

4. What did Thoreau say ruined man's thoughts?
(a) Lack of conversation.
(b) School.
(c) Social standards.
(d) Cultivation of the mind.

5. What did Thoreau say ruined the earth?
(a) Cultivation of the earth.
(b) Industry.
(c) Social standards.
(d) Expansion.

6. What did Thoreau say Brown was NOT?
(a) Religious.
(b) Educated.
(c) Compassionate.
(d) Insane.

7. What did Thoreau say all critics of Brown lacked?
(a) Apathy.
(b) Sympathy.
(c) Education.
(d) Integrity.

8. What did Thoreau say people did wrong when writing the word nature?
(a) It should be capitalized.
(b) It should be underlined.
(c) It should be italicized.
(d) It should be in quotes.

9. What did Thoreau compare what Nature revealed to man to?
(a) Growth.
(b) Wind.
(c) Rain.
(d) Sunshine.

10. What did Thoreau say about most people's idea of improvement?
(a) It was well-founded.
(b) It could never be accomplished.
(c) It was destroying nature.
(d) It was counter-productive.

11. What did Massachusetts support that angered Thoreau in 'A Plea for Captain John Brown'?
(a) The Free Trade Compromise.
(b) The Nebraska-Kansas Act.
(c) The Federal Government.
(d) John Brown.

12. What was Brown trying to build with his attack?
(a) A political party.
(b) An army.
(c) A fortress.
(d) A message.

13. What did Thoreau ask permission to do at the beginning of 'Walking'?
(a) Live his life.
(b) Persuade the reader.
(c) Elaborate.
(d) Be brief.

14. What did Thoreau say we should let our thoughts do?
(a) Become.
(b) Take hold.
(c) Grow.
(d) Wander.

15. Where did Thoreau say people were not really inhabitants of?
(a) Society.
(b) Nature.
(c) America.
(d) Their bodies.

Short Answer Questions

1. What about Brown did Thoreau think was misunderstood at the time?

2. What was Thoreau pleading for in his speech about John Brown?

3. How did Thoreau describe his thesis in 'Walking'?

4. Who did Thoreau compare Brown to?

5. In 'Walking', what did Thoreau say most men's minds naturally gravitated towards?

(see the answer keys)

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