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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is the old term for depression?
(a) Melancholia.
(b) Manic depressive.
(c) Mania.
(d) Mental deficit.

2. What bothers Styron about his meeting with Gary's estranged wife?
(a) That Gary was letting his estranged wife live with him.
(b) Their son was caught between their differences.
(c) That he didn't understand her deep depression and what it meant.
(d) Gary's wife wasn't very involved with her son.

3. When is depression at its worst?
(a) Madness.
(b) Fake feelings of sadness.
(c) Painful sorrow.
(d) A blue state.

4. At what point in one's life does Styron say the seeds of depression are planted?
(a) There is not one particular time, it varies.
(b) In middle age.
(c) In early adulthood.
(d) In childhood.

5. What two people does Styron think of while leaving Paris?
(a) His father and brother.
(b) Job and Milton.
(c) Albert Camus and Romain Gary.
(d) His son and brother.

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

7. Though the death of the poet, Randall Jarrell, was ruled accidental, why does Styron say it was probably suicide?
(a) He wanted to discredit Jarrell because of a disagreement they had.
(b) He wanted to gain support for his theory that depression led to suicide.
(c) He didn't want Jarrell's widow to receive the large insurance settlement.
(d) Because of Jarrell's depression and the fact there was no reason for him to be on the road on which he was struck by a car.

8. Why is Styron not worried about the loss?
(a) He feels he is justified in getting angry.
(b) He is so depressed and lethargic that nothing matters to him.
(c) He knows he will be okay later.
(d) He knows his friend will be his friend again.

9. According to Styron, why is the word depression so hard for people to accept?
(a) People can't understand what it means.
(b) It is the word for a hole in the ground, which is very demeaning for a name of a major illness.
(c) It has not been heard of before.
(d) It indicates a weak person.

10. What does Styron realize in Paris that helps him understand what is happening to him?
(a) He begins to cry incessantly and realizes he is depressed.
(b) He can't think clearly anymore.
(c) He can't talk to his wife any more.
(d) The circadian cycle gives him moments of brief respite from the deep depression, giving clarity of thought.

11. Why would Jarrell's widow not want to admit he committed suicide?
(a) She was cheating on him.
(b) She didn't believe he committed suicide.
(c) Because of the stigma of suicide.
(d) Because she couldn't collect his life insurance.

12. What pressing question does Styron have about the course of depression?
(a) Why doesn't the person just cheer up and get over it?
(b) Why do some who suffered commit suicide while others don't?
(c) Why would a person who has everything still be depressed?
(d) What medicines are effective?

13. What symptoms did Jarrell suffer from that caused Styron to believe in Jarrell's suicide?
(a) He had a terminal illness and was in pain.
(b) He often mentioned life wasn't worth living.
(c) Black despondency, violent fluctuation of mood, and his deep depression.
(d) He wanted his wife to have money and his insurance would give it to her.

14. What percentage of artistic types who suffer from depression die from suicide?
(a) 60%.
(b) 20%.
(c) 100%.
(d) 10%.

15. Though Styron admits all professions are susceptible to depression, which profession is the most susceptible?
(a) Lawyers.
(b) School teacherrs.
(c) Artistic types.
(d) Doctors.

Short Answer Questions

1. What characteristic of depression make Styron's memoir limited in benefit?

2. What city is Styron in at the beginning of the memoir?

3. What happens before Styron meets with Camus?

4. How does Camus's essay influence Stryon's philosophy of life?

5. What does Styron say is the most universal symptom of depression?

(see the answer keys)

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