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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. To which historical figure does Marcus compare Elvis?
(a) Abraham Lincoln.
(b) Ralph Waldo Emerson.
(c) Stevie Wonder.
(d) Richard Nixon.

2. What literary figure does Marcus allude to in "Sly Stone" when identifying how Sly speaks in the music?
(a) Ahab.
(b) Golem.
(c) Starbuck.
(d) Frodo.

3. The Riot album reveals what image that Sly had for himself?
(a) Failure.
(b) Success.
(c) Artist.
(d) Cop out.

4. In the introduction to "Elvis," Marcus claims that Elvis epitomizes what?
(a) The chaos of Harmonica Frank.
(b) The worst of our culture.
(c) The best of our culture.
(d) The anger of Robert Johnson.

5. What type of Staggerlee does Sly create in Riot?
(a) The cruelest.
(b) One that regrets his crimes.
(c) One that does not get away.
(d) The baddest.

Short Answer Questions

1. Curtis Mayfield's songs in Superfly were meant to be what according to Marcus?

2. What archetype does Newman represent?

3. How many people came to see Elvis open a shopping center after he produced only one record?

4. From whom does Marcus quote in the beginning to introduce the myth of Staggerlee in "Sly Stone"?

5. What two lines from an Elvis song does Marcus claim are the most perfect lines in blues?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Marcus compare the Fresh album by Sly to "Nietzsche's belief that he who gazes into the abyss will find the abyss looking back; that he who looks too long at monsters may well become one" (90)?

2. According to Marcus in the section "Sly Versus Superfly," why does Riot matter?

3. Why was "Short People" so controversial? What did this mean for Newman?

4. How does Marcus define pop culture optimism and pessimism in "Sly Stone"?

5. According to Marcus in "Elvis," what was ironic about Elvis' natural, spontaneous appearance and sound in his music?

6. In "Elvis," Marcus discusses the Pink Cadillac as being the downfall of Elvis. What does the Pink Cadillac symbolize and how is it Elvis' downfall?

7. According to Marcus in "Elvis," what are Elvis Presley's roots?

8. According to Marcus in "Sly Stone," why did Sly Stone create the album Riot ?

9. According to Marcus in "Randy Newman," what is important about the Beach Boys? (101)

10. Compare and contrast Sly and Staggerlee as presented in "Sly Stone: The Myth of Staggerlee in the sections: Introduction and "Sly Stone." How are they similar? How are they different?

(see the answer keys)

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