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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. __________ is a very large part of some cultures and is typically not a group activity that one shares.

2. Changing another person is virtually ____________, so many programs teach people to change their reactions instead.

3. Some people have the preconceived notion that all work is supposed to be _____________, and that its only goal is to provide food.

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

5. People, by nature it seems, are ___________ animals who rely on others for enjoyment and survival.

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

5. What does the author want to point out that few people realize about the mind and how to control it?

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

7. What are the two basic responses to stress that people tend to fall into when they are faced with such a challenge?

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

9. What happens to those people in a society who are shunned and taken out of the community where they live?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The author has come up with the concept of 'flow' and that this is the state in which happiness is found.

Part 1: How might you define 'flow' as it is seen in your own life?

Part 2: Why do you think the term 'flow' works for the discussion the author wants to have? Or doesn't it?

Part 3: In what ways do you think 'flow' affects everyday life? Or doesn't it? Support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Changing your reaction to the events in your life that upset you can lead to happiness even in the face of trauma.

Part 1: Why do you think changing your reaction is a way to create happiness?

Part 2: Do you think it's easy to change your reaction to difficult situations?

Part 3: How can one learn to change their reactions to situations? Or can't they? Is this an inherent quality of only some people?

Essay Topic 3

It seems that people can cope with stress in one of two ways - crumbling or finding their focus.

Part 1: Why do some people crumble when they are faced with a lot of stress?

Part 2: Why do some people become more focused when they are under pressure?

Part 3: How do you react when you are faced with a lot of stress?

(see the answer keys)

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