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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Chapter 8.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which group of people does depression never happen to?
(a) Older people who have gotten a grasp on life.
(b) None are excluded; it attacks all groups.
(c) People younger than their teens.
(d) Mothers who enjoy their role.

2. What does Levi's suicide cause Styron to do?
(a) Write an op-ed piece to the NY Times on depression, discounting the shame most felt about it.
(b) Plan his own suicide.
(c) Condemn Levi for his cowardice.
(d) Denounce Levi as his friend.

3. What is the award Styron receives?
(a) Prix Mondial Cino del Duca award.
(b) Newberry Award.
(c) Nobel Peace Prize.
(d) He didn't receive one, he was giving one.

4. What happens to Styron's writing as he descends into depression?
(a) He gets published much easier.
(b) His writing doesn't make sense.
(c) He begins to write much faster and more productively.
(d) It eventually becomes non-existent.

5. Why does he throw his diary in the garbage instead of burning it?
(a) He is afraid of fire, so couldn't bring himself to burn the diary.
(b) He doesn't want to see any trace, such as ashes.
(c) He doesn't want to start a fire and let his friends know what he was doing.
(d) It better represents the annihilation of a loathful self, and deserves to be thrown in the garbage as well.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Styron believe he needs to get well that can be provided by the hospital?

2. Which novel character does Styron compare himself with?

3. What is Styron not able to recover?

4. How does his diary represent his mental state?

5. At the dinner party, how does Styron react to the four friends?

(see the answer key)

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