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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. How did Thoreau begin 'A Plea for Captain John Brown'?
(a) He described John Brown.
(b) He read a newspaper clip.
(c) He read from the Constitution.
(d) He quoted a poem.

2. What about Brown did Thoreau think was misunderstood at the time?
(a) His reasonings.
(b) His leadership.
(c) His methods.
(d) His intentions.

3. What did Thoreau say the walls we need to break down were hindering?
(a) Possibilities.
(b) Growth.
(c) Freedom.
(d) Ideas.

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

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What did Thoreau think should be made illegal in Massachusetts?

2. What kind of walls did Thoreau say men should break down?

3. What did Thoreau say about most people's idea of improvement?

4. Who did Thoreau say the newspapers of the time were NOT serving?

5. Why did Thoreau say most men would never do what Brown did?

Short Essay Questions

1. What was Thoreau pleading for in 'A Plea for Captain John Brown'?

2. How did Thoreau feel about the violence Brown used, and why?

3. What animal did Thoreau compare himself to when walking, and why?

4. What did Thoreau say Nature would do for a walker?

5. What did Thoreau not like about the media coverage of Brown and his attack?

6. What did Thoreau say invalidated all the critics who spoke against Brown?

7. Why did Thoreau think Massachusetts was hypocritical?

8. What did Thoreau say was the main difference between Brown and the man he compared Brown to?

9. How did Thoreau show his ideal relationship between man and nature?

10. What did Thoreau say about American's gravitating toward the West?

(see the answer keys)

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