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

Multiple Choice Questions

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

2. What does Styron say depression is like?
(a) Drowning or suffocation.
(b) Makes him angry at everyone.
(c) An extra sleepy mood.
(d) A sadness.

3. 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 Gary always had a melancholy typical of Europeans.
(c) Because he rarely talked to Gary.
(d) Because he didn't know what depression looked like.

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

5. 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 he probably didn't know the driver was so reckless.
(c) That his friend didn't have any choice about who to ride with.
(d) That it was a form of suicide.

6. What does Styron think of these two people, who were close literary friends?
(a) He thinks they both had depression.
(b) He doesn't think their writing was very good.
(c) He thinks they should have won the award.
(d) He thinks they should move to America where they would be more recognized.

7. What happens before Styron meets with Camus?
(a) Camus gets upset at Styron for his moods.
(b) Camus dies in a car accident.
(c) Camus leaves Paris.
(d) Camus leaves on his honeymoon.

8. What quote from Baudelaire does Styron use to explain his feelings?
(a) "Madness breeds madness."
(b) "I have felt the wind of the wing of madness."
(c) "Madness is but a figment of the imagination."
(d) "Man's madness is his downfall."

9. 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) Denounce Levi as his friend.
(c) Plan his own suicide.
(d) Condemn Levi for his cowardice.

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

11. Where did Styron meet Hoffman?
(a) He had never really met him, only talked to him.
(b) At a writer's conference.
(c) At a democratic convention.
(d) At the del Duco award dinner.

12. How old was Styron when he published his first novel?
(a) 35.
(b) 40.
(c) Mid-20's.
(d) 15.

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

14. What does Styron say he will do with the prize money he won?
(a) Give most to charity but save a small portion for a personal matter.
(b) Retire early and write.
(c) Give it all to charity.
(d) Pay off all old debts so he could concentrate on writing.

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Gary reveal to Styron about the effect the death of his ex-wife had on him?

2. What three factors does Styron name as contributing to depression?

3. What causes Styron to lose his voice in Paris?

4. What effect does Styron's op-ed piece have on the general public?

5. What does Styron lose at the luncheon in Paris?

(see the answer keys)

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