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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 is the main business of Roseto in the early years of its founding?

2. How many of the musicians make it to the highest level of musicianship through talent alone?

3. What is the conclusion Terman comes to about high IQ children?

4. What data does the table that Gladwell consults to theorize the success of some of the best hockey players in the country include?

5. In what year does Joy start college?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does IQ stand for and who developed a test to measure it?

2. Where is Roseto and who founded it?

3. What does Anders Ericcson learn in a study he makes of musicians?

4. What does Wolf finally decide is the reason for the low number of heart disease-related deaths?

5. What does Wolf investigate and what does he learn?

6. Where is Langan at the time Gladwell writes his book?

7. What does Gladwell say Langan does not seem to be able to do?

8. What did the experiment track and what are the results?

9. To what does Gladwell attribute the difference between Langan and Oppenheimer?

10. What are the unusual circumstances in the timing of Bill Joy's career in computer programming?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

1. What do you think are the characteristics of a successful work of non-fiction?

2. Analyze and discuss Outliers based upon the criteria you decide upon in #1 and judge if Outliers is a successful work of non-fiction/memoir.

3. Is Outliers a book you would recommend to a friend? Why or why not? Explain.

4. Can a non-fictional book be successful and yet many readers not enjoy it? Explain your response.

Essay Topic 2

Kentucky is settled by people who come from a "culture of honor." Back in Britain, they are herdsmen and herding cultures worldwide have commonly developed such a culture, Gladwell explains. In a culture of honor, loyalty to one's family or clan is the most important thing. People from this background are driven to defend their families and are quick to respond to any perceived threat.

1. Discuss what a culture of honor is in your own words. Use examples from Outliers to support your answer.

2. Do you think honor can be a good value if used properly? Why or why not? Use examples from Outliers to support your answer.

3. What do you think are the dangers in too much loyalty to one's family or a over blown sense of honor? Use examples from Outliers to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

Gladwell gives the reader an overview of his ideas about success in Outliers. Discuss one of the following:

1. Discuss Gladwell's opinions of three topics he discussed in relation to success. Do you agree or disagree with him? Why? Use examples from Outliers to support your answer.

2. Compare and contrast Gladwell's opinions from Outliers with what you might imagine Gladwell's opinion might be had he lived 100 years ago. How do you think his opinions would change? Would they remain the same? Explain fully. Use examples from Outliers to support your answer.

3. Discuss how you think Gladwell's view on several topics from this essay informs his life as a researcher. Use examples from Outliers to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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