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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. According to Lessing, governments use brain washing for what purpose?

2. According to Lessing, what do humans require?

3. Why do most people ignore the existence of brainwashing techniques?

4. How many books did Lessing write under a pseudonym?

5. People in democratic societies believe they are __________.

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do people often conform to groups?

2. Why would a government or sect of any sort want to control its subjects through brainwashing?

3. What is the price an individual might pay if he resists the group mentality?

4. Why was Lessing opposed to mass emotion?

5. When it comes to commentators and critics, what breeds an air of familiarity with viewers?

6. Lessing stated that people in democratic societies are often fooling themselves on their level of freedom. Why?

7. What was the Milgram experiment?

8. Who is Jean Rhys? Why did all of her work become popular?

9. Why do people fall victim to "inner censorship"?

10. During the Korean War, why were American soldiers confessing to crimes they had nothing to do with?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Lessing was raised in Rhodesia, where a small ruling class of whites dominated the black majority. Based on Lessing's theories, create an argument as to why the whites were successful in this endeavor.

Essay Topic 2

Support or refute the following statement, citing examples from the text, "The mob mentality has dominated individual thought throughout history."

Essay Topic 3

Lessing contended that several parts of our culture use brainwashing as a form of communication. Choose from one of the following entities and examine the influence it has or could have on society through brainwashing.

1) Advertising community.

2) Religion.

3) Government.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 536 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample