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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. Why does Joe Flom have trouble getting a job after college?

2. What do some countries consider doing with Korean Airlines?

3. What does Gladwell say Asian cultures value?

4. Who utters an audible insult to some of the men in the experiment?

5. Of what heritage is Joe Flom?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are proxy wars?

2. What does Gladwell think is the cause of families feuding?

3. What does Suren Ratwatte say about a Colombian airliner that crashes in New York?

4. What does Gladwell say about early American educational theorists?

5. Describe the plane crash of Korean Airlines Flight 801 in 1997.

6. Why doesn't Joe Flom work for a large, prestigious law group when he graduates from law school?

7. How does PDI explain the crash of the Colombian airliner?

8. What is Gladwell's interpretation of Cohen and Nisbett's experiment?

9. How does Harlan gain notoriety in its early days?

10. What is KIPP and who are its students?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Chapter 5 is called "The Three Lessons of Joe Flom." Joe Flom is a partner in a very successful New York law firm.

1. Discuss, in depth, the three lessons of Joe Flom. Use examples from Outliers to support your answer.

2. How do you think the lessons of Joe Flom might relate to the idea of fate or destiny? Use examples from Outliers to support your answer.

3. Do you think Joe's success, in his circumstances, was because he was Jewish or do you think any discriminated against minority might have fared the same? Why or why not? Use examples from Outliers to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Titles often play a vital role in making a person decide to read a particular book. Discuss the following:

1. Fully explain why you think Outliers is titled as such. Do you think it is the best title for the book? Why or why not? Can you think of a better title? Why would you choose it?

2. How important is a title in influencing you to consider reading a book? Explain your answer.

3. Do you think a title needs to have direct relevance to a book's content? Explain your answer.

4. Have you ever read a book that when you finished, you do not understand the relevance of the title? Does it discourage you from "trusting" that particular author again?

Essay Topic 3

Gladwell writes his opinions on education in the public schools as opposed to pilot schools or Asian schools. Discuss one of the following:

1. Discuss and analyze three major ideas Gladwell has about education.

2. How are Gladwell's ideas about education supported by his research? Or not? Discuss with examples.

3. Discuss what a school would be like that uses all of Gladwell's ideas about education. Use examples from Outliers to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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