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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What feeds on ignorance, according to the Puritans' religious views?
(a) Aristocracy.
(b) The devil.
(c) Stupidity.
(d) Democracy.

2. When can a judge refuse to enforce a law?
(a) When the law in unconstitutional.
(b) When they do not agree with the law.
(c) When they do not like the law.
(d) When the people they are representing do not like the law.

3. When American writers exaggerate the importance of a subject, de Tocqueville says it gets lost in what?
(a) The clouds.
(b) Oblivion.
(c) Space.
(d) The world.

4. A democracy will not purposely legislate against the good of its what?
(a) Voters.
(b) Minority.
(c) People.
(d) Majority.

5. What does de Tocqueville observe that the principle of equality has created an extraordinary sense of in the American people?
(a) Logic.
(b) Perfectability.
(c) Rationality.
(d) Stability.

6. What is an essential tool for maintaining liberty?
(a) Protection of the First Amendment.
(b) Protection of the press.
(c) Freedom of religion.
(d) Freedom of the press.

7. How does de Tocqueville characterize political parties?
(a) As necessary but evil.
(b) As necessary and good.
(c) As unnecessary and good.
(d) As unnecessary and evil.

8. Democratic regimes value prosperity over what?
(a) Intelligence.
(b) Brilliance.
(c) Change.
(d) Contributions.

9. According to de Tocqueville, in Europe men obey what?
(a) God.
(b) Laws.
(c) Men.
(d) Justice.

10. What kind of literature does America produce?
(a) Romantic.
(b) Novels.
(c) Journalistic.
(d) Reports.

11. American settlers imported most of their technical language from where?
(a) Canada.
(b) France.
(c) Asia.
(d) Europe.

12. What kind of regime did the people of France and England live in?
(a) Aristocratic.
(b) Democratic.
(c) Authoritarian.
(d) Theocratic.

13. Cupidity means what?
(a) A strong desire, normally for wealth.
(b) A strong desire, normally for participation.
(c) A strong desire, normally for material things.
(d) A strong desire, normally for achievement.

14. Instead of being driven by man, events--according to a democratic writer--are driven by what?
(a) Fate or irresistable forces.
(b) Providence or irresistible forces.
(c) Fate or sheer necessity.
(d) Providence or sheer necessity.

15. Democracy is a catalyst for what?
(a) Economic growth.
(b) Change.
(c) Industry.
(d) Material wealth.

Short Answer Questions

1. What kind of impact does the American press have on its people?

2. According to de Tocqueville, equality can enable what?

3. Religion and the constant drive for ___________ are the main barriers to the development of independent arts and science in the United States, according to de Tocqueville.

4. What reason does de Tocqueville supply for what Americans read, other than to stay informed?

5. Compared to an aristocratic government ruled by an elite administration, democracy allows for what?

(see the answer keys)

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