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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Gladwell say Goliath’s attendant was acting as?
(a) His protector.
(b) His water bearer.
(c) His visual guide.
(d) His arms bearer.

2. How many new teachers does Gladwell say American schools hired between 1996 and 2004?
(a) 750,000.
(b) 1,000,000.
(c) 250,000.
(d) 500,000.

3. What does Gladwell say was T. E. Lawrence’s primary target, which he made multiple strikes against?
(a) A railway line.
(b) A harbor.
(c) A refinery.
(d) A city.

4. How does Gladwell characterize “disagreeableness” (118)?
(a) The refusal to care what others think.
(b) The inability to hear criticism.
(c) The failure to involve other people in decisions.
(d) The refusal to see downsides to decisions.

5. What does Gladwell say the average class size used to be at Shepaug Valley Middle School?
(a) 18.
(b) 25.
(c) 12.
(d) 8.

6. When do dyslexics typically get a diagnosis, according to Gladwell?
(a) Eight or nine.
(b) Six or seven.
(c) Ten or eleven.
(d) Five or six.

7. What does Gladwell say is the best way to raise test scores on the Cognitive Reflection Test?
(a) To give the test with music playing.
(b) To print the test in faint print.
(c) To print the test on colored paper.
(d) To give the test on no sleep.

8. What percentage of wars were won by weaker countries, according to Ivan Arreguin-Toft?
(a) A third.
(b) A quarter.
(c) A half.
(d) A fifth.

9. What does Gladwell say the average class size is now, at Shepaug Valley Middle School?
(a) 28.
(b) 15.
(c) 6.
(d) 22.

10. How did Gary Cohn get his big break?
(a) He shared a cab with a trader.
(b) He met executives through friends.
(c) He talked his way into the executive washroom.
(d) He fell in with a party playing golf.

11. What is the name of the valley in which David and Goliath faced off?
(a) Judaean.
(b) Aijalon.
(c) Elah.
(d) Shephelah.

12. Where does Gladwell say dyslexics’ neurons get “lost along the way” (99)?
(a) In their brain stems.
(b) They get into the blood.
(c) They form behind the eyes.
(d) In their ventricles.

13. How does “relative deprivation” explain the greater sense of dissatisfaction in the Air Force than in the Military Police, according to Sam Stouffer’s study (78)?
(a) If promotions are commonplace, people who get them are not excited about it.
(b) If promotions are rare, people who do not get promoted still feel depressed.
(c) If promotions are rare, people who get them still feel deprived.
(d) If promotions are easy, people who do not get them feel worse than if they are rare.

14. What happened when the California governor announced plans to reduce class size?
(a) He was voted out of office.
(b) He was given a federal grant.
(c) His popularity doubled.
(d) He was challenged in a primary.

15. How tall does Gladwell say the tallest man in the world was?
(a) 9’1”.
(b) 8’1”.
(c) 8’11”.
(d) 7’8”.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why does Gladwell say Goliath said that David was coming at him with multiple sticks?

2. What kind of improvement in outcomes does Caroline Hoxby correlate class size to?

3. Why does Gladwell say Boies made a good lawyer?

4. What will be the consequence for the loser’s people, in the single combat of David and Goliath?

5. What does Gladwell say is the range of an experienced slinger?

(see the answer keys)

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