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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is NOT a side-effect experienced by under-nourished individuals, according to the author in Appendix 2?

2. According to Huxley, what causes negative visionary experiences?

3. According to the author, what are the odds of a negative reaction with the second technique described in Appendix 1?

4. According to the author, in Appendix 2 what was the result of our ancestors' winter diets?

5. What is the name of the plant in which the substance being tested is found?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the author begin to ponder after seeing a book of Sandro Botticelli's paintings in the World's Biggest Drug Store?

2. What types of art have the most transportative properties, according to the author?

3. What are the author's expectations regarding what he will experience during the mescalin trial?

4. To which spiritual practice does the author refer to exemplify the effects of a restricted diet?

5. What is known about peyote before the author participates in his experiment with it?

6. What are the advantages and disadvantages of the second vision-inducing method discussed in Appendix 1?

7. What does the author say about Plato during the first part of the mescalin experiment?

8. What does the author say in "Heaven and Hell" about the two possible techniques for achieving the level of consciousness needed to explore the mind?

9. What metaphor does the author use at the beginning of "Heaven and Hell" to describe the unexplored regions of the human psyche?

10. Why is the author eager to participate in the study of peyote and mescalin?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Huxley differentiates between religiousness and religiosity in an artist's work. What is the difference, according to Huxley, between these two terms? How can one be present without the other? How does each of these qualities change an artist's work?

Essay Topic 2

Peyote and its active ingredient mescalin have been used for centuries by Native Americans and other groups for their vision-inducing powers. What was known about mescalin when Huxley began his experiment? What was the purpose of the experiment? What was discovered during the course of the experiment? Were there any unexpected effects of the drug? If so, what were they?

Essay Topic 3

Huxley was willing, and in fact eager, to try mescalin for research purposes. Why was he so willing to try it? Were there any known risks? If so, what were they? How did Huxley feel about those risks? What expectations did Huxley have for the experience? Were those expectations met?

(see the answer keys)

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