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

Multiple Choice Questions

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

2. In what year does Styron first realize his illness could lead to his death?
(a) 1985.
(b) 1989.
(c) 1950.
(d) 1990.

3. What does the suicide of another of Styron's friends lead him to believe?
(a) That life isn't worth living.
(b) That he isn't a very good friend to others since he can't help them.
(c) That he would soon have to face the fact that his own suicide is his only way out.
(d) That his friends must be weak.

4. What do Styron's companions notice about him?
(a) That he appears not to feel well.
(b) He is angry at his friends.
(c) He is very sleepy.
(d) He is disoriented.

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

6. What reaction to the op-ed piece causes Styron to decide to write this memoir?
(a) The number of people reacting positively causes him to think sharing his experiences would be beneficial.
(b) His editor asked him to write the memoir.
(c) He learned his piece had saved someone's life, so wanted to reach out with more information.
(d) People indicated they just didn't understand depression.

7. According to Styron, what is between Gaelic and Americana?
(a) Paris museums.
(b) The French bidet.
(c) The restaurant he went to after getting his award.
(d) His memoir.

8. What is unusual about Styron's visit to Paris?
(a) The bathrooms have bidets in them.
(b) He doesn't visit anything but the museum.
(c) He doesn't eat anything while he was there.
(d) He refuses to go to a luncheon in his honor.

9. What bothers Styron so much about not being able to meet Camus?
(a) It meant he had to go to his luncheon with Lady del Duco.
(b) Because it meant he barely missed getting to meet the man whose writing he so admired.
(c) It meant Camus couldn't hear about winning the award.
(d) It meant there was another suicide in his circle of friends.

10. What does Styron say about not returning to France?
(a) He doesn't like to travel.
(b) It cost so much to go and he was nearly broke.
(c) He had such a miserable time in Paris.
(d) He believes one day in the near future he will take his own life.

11. What does Styron believe about a depressed colleague's decision to ride with a reckless driver?
(a) That his friend didn't want to embarrass his friend by refusing a ride.
(b) That his friend didn't have any choice about who to ride with.
(c) That he probably didn't know the driver was so reckless.
(d) That it was a form of suicide.

12. What three factors does Styron name as contributing to depression?
(a) Family trouble, job loss, and financial worries.
(b) Early loss, weak character, and no support.
(c) Chemicals in the brain, behavior, and genetics.
(d) Anger, fear, and desolation.

13. Why is it hard for Styron to recognize depression in his friend, Gary?
(a) Because Gary always had a melancholy typical of Europeans.
(b) Because he didn't know what depression looked like.
(c) Because he rarely talked to Gary.
(d) Because Gary was so good at hiding his feelings.

14. What does Styron say is the most universal symptom of depression?
(a) Loss of friendships.
(b) Sadness.
(c) Self-hatred or lack of self-esteem.
(d) Intense anxiety.

15. What does Styron say about assigning reasons for suicide to those who take that route?
(a) That only weak people commit suicide.
(b) Most of the time the cause is not one incident, but overwhelming depression.
(c) That people who commit suicide are justified in doing it.
(d) That people who commit suicide don't love their families.

Short Answer Questions

1. What puzzles Styron about Camus's book, "The Fall"?

2. What does Styron think after his flashback?

3. According to Styron, why is the word depression so hard for people to accept?

4. In Chapter 3, what event causes Styron to more fully explore the relationship between depression and suicide?

5. What happens to Styron's writing as he descends into depression?

(see the answer keys)

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