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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. In what way does the second essay differ from the first?

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

3. How does the author respond when the researcher asks him if his experience with the drug is positive or negative?

4. When did fireworks re-enter the world of popular entertainment, according to the author?

5. What is Heaven, according to the author?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the main difference between "The Doors of Perception" and "Heaven and Hell"?

2. What personal story is related by the author concerning the second vision-inducing method in Appendix 1?

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

4. How did movies evolve, according to the information presented in Appendix 3?

5. What does the author say about the history of fireworks, in Appendix 3?

6. According to the author, what is the role of psychics and mystics in the modern Western world, and why?

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

8. What are the two methods discussed in Appendix 1 for inducing a visionary experience?

9. What experiment was conducted on the human brain by Penfield?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

Color and light are both crucial aspects of a visionary experience, according to Huxley. Why? In what natural objects are color and light often seen in an intense concentration? How are these objects part of religion and spirituality? In Huxley's opinion, why are color and light so important to visionary experiences?

Essay Topic 3

Huxley discusses the role of vision-inducing methods in religion and spirituality. Why are vision-inducing methods often used in religion? What is the importance of visions in religion? What were the methods most commonly used by religious and spiritual zealots?

(see the answer keys)

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