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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. Whitman says that the _______ understands that the young man who sacrificed and lost his life for a worthy purpose led a life far superior to one with money.

2. Leisure is not the same thing as _________, according to the book, and it needs to be approached in a different way.

3. Nature's gifts can not be _________, according to the book, even though man is attempting to do so now.

4. _________ says that poverty, that confirms with the laws of nature, is great wealth, according to the book.

5. ________ cautions against building one's house beyond reasonable expense and splendor, according to the book.

Short Essay Questions

1. Though life is a struggle, what is the advice that Burroughs gives to the reader in this section?

2. How does Whitman describe the ideal life, according to his section of the book?

3. What does the Ford Foundation report have to say about the idea of overpopulation?

4. What does Young say would happen if America gave away possessions they did not need to the rest of the world?

5. What is the one gift that is provided by a transition to Voluntary Poverty, according to VandenBroeck?

6. What does Seneca point out that man does not limit when it comes to the use of nature?

7. What has the artist always been able to do, according to Honore de Balzac?

8. What do artists and the creative community seem to understand that others do not?

9. What does Gandhi discover as he has experienced both wealth and poverty?

10. What does Russell say about the idea of saving for the future?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Some people choose to have a smaller salary, saying they are happier even though they are making less money.

Part 1: Do you think that you would be happy with a smaller salary?

Part 2: Why do you think that people are happier when they're not making a lot of money?

Part 3: How do you think that making less money would change your life right now?

Essay Topic 2

When the man with the belt of gold decides that he does not want to remove his belt as the ship is sinking, it makes the reader realize the strangeness of money and greed.

Part 1: Why do you think the man hesitates to take off the belt of gold?

Part 2: What would you do if you were the man with the belt of gold?

Part 3: Is there ever a reason to let money be a priority in one's life?

Essay Topic 3

William James points out that the praises of poverty need to be sung more loudly than they had been lately.

Part 1: What do you think some of the praises of poverty are?

Part 2: How do you think poverty could be more celebrated in society?

Part 3: Do you agree that people need to learn more about poverty in order to appreciate it?

(see the answer keys)

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