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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How did Proust not practice what he preached in the message of "In Search of Lost Time"?
(a) He hated simple things.
(b) He did not like ordinary.
(c) He was an extravagant person.
(d) He was blind to ordinary things.

2. Who is Proust's impressionist-like painter among his characters in "In Search of Lost Time"?
(a) Elister.
(b) Elstir.
(c) Ellen.
(d) Ellie.

3. Who was an editor who also wrote a piece about a composer George Bizet?
(a) Louis Ganderax.
(b) Proust.
(c) De Botton.
(d) Marquis de Lau.

4. What did Proust say about people when they used tried sayings?
(a) They are plagiarizing.
(b) They lack creativity and authenticity.
(c) They are "superficial articulations" of ideas and experiences.
(d) They are lazy.

5. How did Proust feel everyone should view the world?
(a) As if it were new.
(b) As if it were real.
(c) As if it were their's.
(d) As if it were magical.

6. What should love always involve according to Proust?
(a) A pursuit.
(b) A need.
(c) A support.
(d) A fulfillment.

7. What did Proust's own problems with friendship come from?
(a) His supernatural powers of love.
(b) His supernatural powers of perception.
(c) His supernatural powers of analysis.
(d) His supernatural powers of inferiority.

8. Which of the following did Proust NOT say about friendship?
(a) It was needed.
(b) It was a farce.
(c) It was a lie.
(d) It was a foolish sacrifice.

9. Who is Aunt Leonie?
(a) One of Proust's characters in "In Search of Lost Time".
(b) De Botton's aunt.
(c) Proust's aunt.
(d) An author.

10. What did Proust believe about people when they were with their friends?
(a) They were not themselves.
(b) They were honest.
(c) They were pretending.
(d) They felt support.

11. What are great author's able to do according to Proust?
(a) Move people in their words.
(b) Coin cliched terms.
(c) Create imagery and emotions in their readers.
(d) Express themselves in unique ways.

12. What does Proust claim humans too often get upset at unnecessarily?
(a) The image of their life.
(b) Their overall desires.
(c) The way they feel about their life.
(d) Their life's expectations.

13. What did Proust feel people's dissatisfaction or unhappiness ultimately was?
(a) Failure to communicate.
(b) Failure of perception.
(c) Failure to love.
(d) Failure to understand.

14. What was Proust excellent at arranging for everyone else except for himself?
(a) Love.
(b) Parties.
(c) Appreciation.
(d) Happiness.

15. What is Proust's narrator suddenly filled with after he eats some cake in "In Search of Lost Time"?
(a) Compassion.
(b) Motivation.
(c) Passion.
(d) Zest and energy.

Short Answer Questions

1. In what year did did Proust write the essay about the unsatisfied little boy?

2. How did Proust act with his friends?

3. How long does it take for the narrator in "In Search of Lost Time" to grow bored with his new interest?

4. How did Proust feel when people used trite and cliched expressions?

5. What do Proust's friends say about Proust in the quotes De Botton gives?

(see the answer keys)

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