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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. What do newborns seem to recognize?

2. What did Whitman indicate in some writings he left behind?

3. What is the significant fact in the two showings to the men?

4. What creature does Eagleman use as an example of one with an excellent sense of smell?

5. What question does Eagleman pose about the actor?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Eagleman say is hard wired into our brains?

2. What comparison of thought to wavelengths does Eagleman make?

3. Explain the physical division in the brain and what can happen if the two hemispheres are severed.

4. Does Eagleman think genetics or upbringing has more to bear on one's actions and does he think it is an important question?

5. How does Eagleman see many of the small sub-routines of the mind and what example does he give?

6. What does Chapter 4 explore?

7. How does Eagleman interpret the incident?

8. To what part of the body are newborns drawn and what does this imply about human beings' predisposition?

9. What does Eagleman write about Kenneth Parks?

10. What does Eagleman say about free will?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What we like is also determined largely by unconscious thinking and a natural tendency to like ourselves, Eagleman claims. This is called "implicit egotism," and is a well-established phenomenon, he explains. It is illustrated by the fact, for example, that people marry others with first names that start with the same letter more often than would be expected by chance. Eagleman claims this is because we implicitly prefer others that are like ourselves in some way.

1. Discuss how you feel about yourself and whether you think your feelings stem from your unconscious. Use examples from your own life and Incognito to support your answer.

2. Do you think most people like themselves? Why or why not. Use examples from your own life and Incognito to support your answer.

3. Do you think it is a positive trait that a person likes him/herself? Why or why not? Use examples from your own life and Incognito to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Eagleman in writing about Mel Gibson cites anti-Semitism was demonstrated by Gibson. Discuss one of the following:

1. Define anti-Semitism and give examples of it from both Incognito and other sources.

2. Do you think anti-Semitism still exists in the United States? Explain.

3. Discuss the idea put forth by Eagleman that Mel Gibson may have two brains, one not prejudice and one that is. Use examples from Incognito to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

Eagleman dismisses the assumption that all people are equally equipped to make sound and rational decisions. We are all at the mercy of the unconscious workings of our minds, and our ultimate behavior is a result of the biological balance within our brain. As an example, he points out that the overwhelming number of criminals are male. This suggests that there is a genetic component to the balance among the various rival parts of the brain.

1. Do you think that all people are equally equipped to make sound and rational decisions? Why or why not? Use examples from your own life and Incognito to support your answer.

2. Do you believe you are at the mercy of your unconscious mind? Why or why not? Use examples from your own life and Incognito to support your answer.

3. What kinds of balance between emotional and rational thoughts and feelings do you encounter in your life? Does the rational or emotional part of your brain have more sway over you? Why? Use examples from your own life and Incognito to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,195 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample