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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. According to Harari, what causes many of Africa's present-day problems?
(a) Weak leadership in African countries.
(b) The fact that African borders make little sense.
(c) The enslavement of Africa's best workers.
(d) The disintegration of colonialism.

2. For what was Santino the chimpanzee at the Furuvik Zoo known?
(a) Escaping from his cage.
(b) Solving math problems.
(c) Throwing rocks at visitors to the zoo.
(d) Hiding whenever people were around.

3. Chekhov said if there was a gun in Act One, what would happen in Act Three?
(a) The main character would die.
(b) It would end the play.
(c) Someone would use it.
(d) Someone would steal it.

4. Instead of fearing asteroids, climate change, or volcanoes, what should we fear, according to the author?
(a) Science.
(b) Birds.
(c) Ourselves.
(d) Domesticated animals.

5. When did the idea of having green lawns around dwellings begin?
(a) In the early 20th century.
(b) In the Middle Ages.
(c) With the invention of tennis.
(d) In ancient Greece.

6. What makes the fate of domesticated animals particularly harsh?
(a) They can be killed by wild animals.
(b) The way they live.
(c) They do not have shelter.
(d) The way they die.

7. Harari says that for modern people death is what?
(a) The unconquerable problem.
(b) The logical end of life.
(c) A metaphysical phenomenon.
(d) A technical problem.

8. In most Semitic languages, what does "Eve" mean?
(a) Woman.
(b) Helper.
(c) Mother.
(d) Snake.

9. What does Harari consider the best reason to learn history?
(a) To free yourself of the past and imagine alternative destinies.
(b) To avoid the mistakes of the past and think of the future.
(c) To compare how far humans have come in their development.
(d) To understand how traditions started.

10. Why is the theory of relativity accepted but the theory of evolution is rejected?
(a) The theory of relativity is a scientific breakthrough.
(b) The theory of evolution is about animals.
(c) The theory of evolution cannot be proven.
(d) The theory of relativity does not change our religious beliefs.

11. Why did the U.S. ban creating three parent babies?
(a) Economic impact.
(b) Religious beliefs.
(c) Ethical concerns.
(d) Social implications.

12. Written documents are considered so important they can _____________.
(a) Have more authority than the government.
(b) Reshape reality to conform to what is written.
(c) Keep track of historical information.
(d) Force people to change their beliefs.

13. Why do scientists believe in the mind, or consciousness, but not the soul?
(a) The soul has no visible flow.
(b) The mind is part of the brain.
(c) The mind is a reality we can see.
(d) If you have a mind, you can think.

14. Science deals with facts but cannot make __________.
(a) Liberal dogma.
(b) Ethical judgments.
(c) Moral claims.
(d) Political judgments.

15. In what religious philosophy do humans replace gods?
(a) Scientific.
(b) Agricultural.
(c) Humanist.
(d) Liberalist.

Short Answer Questions

1. Eating too little used to kill many people. What kills many people today?

2. If humans focus their efforts only on glorifying deity, what might they neglect?

3. What Romanian dictator was stunned by someone who booed him during his speech?

4. What hunter-gatherer society still embraces the principles of animism?

5. What are the three uncontrollable forces of nature Harari believes man has conquered?

(see the answer keys)

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