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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Who arranges a meeting between Albert Camus and Styron?
(a) Cino del Duco
(b) William Styron.
(c) Romain Gary.
(d) Rose Styron.

2. What does Gary confess to Styron about Camus's depression?
(a) That Gary saw the same depression in himself, though it was controlled.
(b) He knew Camus was going to commit suicide and did nothing about it.
(c) He had tried to convince Camus to get help.
(d) He didn't believe Camus really suffered from depression.

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

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

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

6. Who is the doctor from Johns Hopkins who gave the name depression to the disease?
(a) Dr. Adolf Meier.
(b) An unnamed psychiatrist.
(c) Dr. Adkins.
(d) Dr. Gold.

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

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

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

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

11. What starts Styron's downward spiral into depression?
(a) Trouble with his wife.
(b) The loss of several friends to suicide.
(c) He begins to suffer nausea when drinking alcohol, which he had depended upon.
(d) Being isolated in Connecticut in the winter.

12. What does Styron say the award he received should have done for him?
(a) Restore his ego.
(b) Pay all his bills.
(c) Make him famous.
(d) Make him new friends.

13. Though Styron feels alone, who is always with him?
(a) His psychiatrist.
(b) His children.
(c) His wife, Rose.
(d) His friend, Gary.

14. What Camus novel has a profound impact on Styron?
(a) "The Long Day."
(b) "The Stranger."
(c) "Reflections of Life."
(d) "Paradise Lost."

15. Who is Styron's literary guide?
(a) Cino del Duca.
(b) Abbie Hoffman.
(c) Romain Gary.
(d) Albert Camus.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Styron call the DSM?

2. Why does Styron say that physical symptoms accompany depression?

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

4. What two people does Styron think of while leaving Paris?

5. According to Styron, who wrote about depression and seemed to really understand it?

(see the answer keys)

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