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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. Many children were born to carry on a _____________ or to serve a parent's biological need for children.

2. There is no rule written in stone about how much a person should work, rather, it all depends on the person's ________.

3. For one that is struggling to make ends meet and to keep a roof over their head, striving for _________ may seem like a frivolous luxury.

4. If the body is not involved in physical activity, then the __________ will reveal itself, according to the author.

5. Solitude is a great thing when you want to solve a problem or master a ____________, according to the author.

Short Essay Questions

1. Why might turning down a promotion to a higher paying job be a better idea for some?

2. How does a person prevent himself from having to dwell on negative thoughts in the brain?

3. What is the one most complex and rewarding relationships one will ever deal with?

4. What are the three basic things a person needs to cope with the obstacles in one's life, according to this section of the book?

5. What can the use of one's memory help a person do in his life?

6. What does striving for flow seem like for a person who is having trouble making ends meet in his life?

7. What kind of animals does the author say that humans are by nature?

8. What does the author believe happens when the mind doesn't have any real demands for its attention?

9. What does each person have to determine for himself in relation to work and how much to work?

10. What becomes a distant memory as the economy demands more of a person's time at work?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

According to the author, the idea of consciousness allows a person to create their own decisions and reactions to the world.

Part 1: How do you define the idea of consciousness in your own life?

Part 2: Do you believe the consciousness is inherent in life or is it something that you can cultivate? Why?

Part 3: Do you think it's better to react without thought or to take time when reacting to situations? Why?

Essay Topic 2

The question of what happiness is becomes the guiding force of this book, causing the initial discussion and everything that comes after.

Part 1: Why do you think the definition of happiness is important to the author?

Part 2: Do you think the discussion of what happiness is is an important discussion? Support your answer.

Part 3: In what ways might the world change if people were not looking to become happier?

Essay Topic 3

Changing external conditions is one of the ways in which the quality of life can be improved, according to the author.

Part 1: Why do you think changing things outside of yourself makes you happier?

Part 2: Do you agree that changing things around you is a way to create permanent happiness?

Part 3: In what ways do you think that changing the external conditions of your life may not cause happiness?

(see the answer keys)

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