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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. Who did Ginsburg consider the most intelligent person she ever knew?
(a) Her father.
(b) Her mother.
(c) Her grandmother.
(d) Her husband.

2. Surely there was a chill wind for women in the law schools of the 1950s, although many of the female students barely noticed it. Why?
(a) It was expected, taken for granted.
(b) They had thick skin and did not let it get to them.
(c) They were too busy studying to notice.
(d) The men were treated even worse in law school than the women.

3. When does Ginsburg say it is appropriate for the Supreme Court to step in?
(a) When good judges are of different minds on what is the right answer.
(b) When no other suitable judges are available.
(c) When a defendant requests it.
(d) As soon as a case goes to trial.

4. Who recognized Ginsburg’s keen sense of justice when he appointed her to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit?
(a) President Richard Nixon.
(b) President Jimmy Carter.
(c) President George Bush.
(d) President Ronald Reagan.

5. What does Ginsburg think about Criticism of the courts, and similarly criticism of other branches of government?
(a) It should be silenced.
(b) It should not be resented.
(c) It should not take place.
(d) It should be ignored.

Short Answer Questions

1. Today, about what percent of the nation’s law students are women?

2. Some studies suggest that which profession is one of the most unhappy and unhealthy on the face of the earth?

3. According to the author, even when she is writing a dissent, Ginsburg’s words can be what?

4. Ginsburg only became engaged with the women’s rights movement at what time?

5. The Supreme Court, unlike the political branches of government, is what kind of institution?

Short Essay Questions

1. What were the injustices being done by Joseph McCarthy and the House Un-American Activities Committee?

2. What does Ginsburg say about our common law system of adjudication and settling matters?

3. What reason does Ginsburg give for why the press seldom talks about the high level of agreement among all of the justices?

4. How was Martin Ginsburg unlike the average male Cornell undergraduate?

5. Why does Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s husband recommend, when calling on a student in class to answer a question, to not choose the students whose hand goes up first?

6. What are the hardest cases for Ginsburg and why does she believe she must still be involved in them?

7. What does Ginsburg say about the position of women as members of the courts?

8. What does Ginsburg say is the one key to both her and Justice O’Connor’s opinions?

9. What concerns Ginsburg regarding feminism and feminist legal theory, in particular?

10. Why does Ginsburg think it is important to ask the question, "Is this dissent or concurrence really necessary?"

(see the answer keys)

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