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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 task does Mama Chia give Dan?

2. What does Dan do just before darkness falls?

3. What does Mama Chia say Dan has become?

4. What does the Tower represent?

5. Where is Dan at the opening to chapter 13?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Dan realize he has to do and what do you think that means?

2. Explain Mama Chia's thoughts about who she, Dan and Socrates are.

3. Who does Dan meet and what does he advice Dan to do about the bullies?

4. What is foreshadowed in this section?

5. To whom does Mama Chia want Dan to be grateful and what does that mean?

6. What do you think Mama Chia means when she says that "The Great Leap" is frightful, but above the heart, it becomes "an elevator ride?"

7. From whom does Dan ask permission to be there and what do you think this is symbolic of?

8. What does Dan say about himself at the beginning of chapter 13, and what do you think he means?

9. Does Dan change his mind about the settlement? How?

10. What task does Mama Chia give Dan and how does he handle it?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

While Dan is meditating, he realizes he must accept what is rather than cling to illusions. Discuss the following:

To what sort of illusions do you think Dan is clinging?

Can being in denial (or clinging to illusions) sometimes be a good thing?

If Dan (or anyone) accepts what is, then how are they motivated to change for the better?

Essay Topic 2

Once Dan has found Ruth Johnson, she gives him a note with some instructions. Discuss the following:

Do you think Dan is wise to blindly follow the note which has him do something that is quite foolhardy?

Given that Dan later learns that he lost part of the note and he was supposed to take food, water and sunscreen, do you think if he had had the complete set of instructions from the beginning he would have been justified in following the path he chooses?

There is a aphorism, "no pain, no gain." Does this saying apply in Dan's experience with the surfboard?

Essay Topic 3

Trace images of the Basic Self throughout the text and thoroughly analyze it and the symbols associated with it.

Trace images of the Conscious Self throughout the text and thoroughly analyze it and the symbols associated with it.

Trace images of the Higher Self throughout the text and thoroughly analyze it and the symbols associated with it.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,180 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample