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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. To what do doubt and despair belong according to the author?
(a) The souls of young women.
(b) The same family.
(c) Completely different spheres.
(d) The hearts of young men.

2. What is the secret horror of every person who lives aethically, according to the author?
(a) Sinning.
(b) Tripping.
(c) Despairing.
(d) Living freely.

3. What "humble view" does the author say he presents to the young man?
(a) What it is to study and perform.
(b) What it is to choose and repent.
(c) What it is to prepare and debate.
(d) What it is to hate and destroy.

4. About what emperor does the author go on at length?
(a) Nero.
(b) Julius Caesar.
(c) Augustus Caesar.
(d) Constantine.

5. If the the young man fails his wife, who does the author say will punish him?
(a) The author says the state will punish the young man.
(b) The author says the young man will punish himself.
(c) The author says his wife will punish the young man.
(d) The author says the Danish marriage police will punish the young man.

6. How does the author describe the way of history?
(a) The author describes the way of history as being ultimately amusing.
(b) The author describes the way of history as being only apparent many years after the fact.
(c) The author describes the way of history as being very long and arduous.
(d) The author describes the way of history as being a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.

7. The author says he would rather have a murder on his conscience than what?
(a) To have spurned a girls love.
(b) To have eaten the last piece of cake.
(c) To have stolen an erotic glance at a beautiful woman.
(d) To have lied about his age.

8. What does the author say is the young man's position in relation to philosophy?
(a) The young man's position is anathema to philosophy.
(b) The young man's position is indifferent to philosophy.
(c) The young man's position is mildly at odds with philosophy.
(d) The young man's position is friendly to philosophy.

9. How fast do philosophers hasten to the past according to the author?
(a) Philosophy never hastens to the past.
(b) So fast that none of philosophy remains in the present at all.
(c) So fast that it ends up in the future.
(d) So fast that only philosophy's coattails remain in the present.

10. Who does the author propose might come to the young man for advice?
(a) A brazenly licentious priest.
(b) A brilliant youth, even younger than he.
(c) The author proposes no one would come to the young man for advice.
(d) A coy milkmaid.

11. What is the author's attitude toward depression?
(a) Depression is the fault of the depressed person.
(b) Depression is the most beautiful gift from God.
(c) Depression makes a person wise.
(d) Depression victimizes millions of people.

12. What does the author find sad in the contemplating of human life?
(a) That most people never learn the joy of a beautiful marriage.
(b) That most people live out their lives in a quiet lostness.
(c) That most people never learn the value of a dollar.
(d) That most people go on about their lives as it they will never die.

13. The author asserts that making a good choice does not depend so much on deliberation as on what?
(a) A baptism of the will.
(b) Just doing what one feels.
(c) What others wish for one to do.
(d) A learning of correctness.

14. The author claims there is the deepest relationship between what two things?
(a) A man and woman who have gotten divorced.
(b) Denmark and Norway.
(c) A choice and the one who is choosing.
(d) A choice and the people surrounding the person choosing.

15. If a sailor is enchanted by a mermaid's song, what is the only way to break the spell according to the author?
(a) One must swallow the eye of a newt.
(b) One must consult a wise man and obtain his blessing.
(c) One must play the same piece backward without making a single mistake.
(d) One must remember Either/Or.

Short Answer Questions

1. What kind of energy does the author say a dying person has?

2. Why does the author say he fights for Either/Or in his letter to the young man?

3. What does the author claim the aesthetic is?

4. On the whole, what does the author say it is to choose?

5. What happens to choice if one admits meditation according to the author?

(see the answer keys)

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