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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. A person can realize that forcing their ___________ upon external situations is often fruitless for them.

2. The author points out that one may not realize just how little ___________ one has over the mind and its abilities.

3. Memory is an important part of every culture and is required to move ahead in any ___________ system.

4. Some people have learned to control the ___________ in such a way that lining the optimal experience become a reality.

5. Solitude can also be __________ when one is forced into the situation and not given a choice in the matter.

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What is certainly responsible for causing grief and trouble in one's life, according to the book?

4. What does it mean when someone overcomes adversity without any gathering of material possessions?

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

6. What is a more compelling way to occupy the mind and to expand the consciousness of the mind?

7. 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?

8. What must happen in relation to work in order for a person to obtain optimal flow?

9. What did Sigmund Freud have to say about the recipe for happiness; what it includes in his opinion?

10. What used to be the reason for people to get married to each other, though the reasons have changed today?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

The conflict of self and outside events can cause psychic entropy, according to the author.

Part 1: Can you come up with an example of how outside events can cause troubles in the mind?

Part 2: Why do you think the self can't always reconcile events that take place outside of itself?

Part 3: Do you believe the self and outside events need to always be congruent? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

The author says that in order to change the world, one must change himself first.

Part 1: Do you agree with the statement of the author? Why or why not?

Part 2: How do you think people could begin to change themselves in order to change the world?

Part 3: Why do you think that some people believe that everyone else has to change for them?

(see the answer keys)

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