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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Who or what does Emerson say he is living his life for?
(a) Himself.
(b) Itself.
(c) God.
(d) The higher good of society.

2. What does Emerson say will happen if one does not put his heart into his work?
(a) His genius will desert him.
(b) His family will desert him.
(c) His friends will desert him.
(d) God will desert him.

3. What does Emerson suggest one should accept in regards to divine providence?
(a) The place divine providence has found for them.
(b) The ideas divine providence has instilled in them.
(c) The work divine providence has allotted them.
(d) The feelings divine providence has instilled in them.

4. What does Emerson say he does not need in talking about virtuous action?
(a) Consent to do good.
(b) Courage and charity.
(c) The assurance of philanthropists.
(d) The assurance of his fellows.

5. Who does Emerson say the youth speaks forcefully to?
(a) Women.
(b) Their contemporaries.
(c) Seniors.
(d) Children.

6. What rule of wisdom does Emerson seem to find in his discussion of society's views of past acts?
(a) Always rely on your memory alone.
(b) Always rely on the memory of others.
(c) Never rely on your memory alone.
(d) Never rely on the memories of others.

7. What word does Emerson use to describe people who live their own opinion "in the midst of the crowd"?
(a) Independent.
(b) Base.
(c) Great.
(d) Ingenious.

8. What is it that we put on in company according to Emerson?
(a) A feigned laugh.
(b) Our best dress.
(c) A forced smile.
(d) A new set of opinions.

9. What does Emerson say is a conspiracy against manhood?
(a) The world.
(b) Joint-stock companies.
(c) Nature.
(d) Society.

10. Which of the following figures does Emerson not mention as being an example of speaking one's mind?
(a) Moses.
(b) Milton.
(c) Plato.
(d) Socrates.

11. How does Emerson say it is easy to live after your own opinion?
(a) When your contemporaries agree with you.
(b) In your community.
(c) In solitude.
(d) Among friends.

12. Emerson says boys try and sentence people and facts based on what?
(a) Their intuition.
(b) Their characters.
(c) Their merits.
(d) Their own mind.

13. Why does Emerson say about children's minds?
(a) Their minds are uninfluenced.
(b) Their minds are whole.
(c) Their minds are undeveloped.
(d) Their minds are untrustworthy.

14. What does Emerson say is the lesson great works of art teach us?
(a) There are few true geniuses in the world.
(b) Art is a matter of personal taste.
(c) Truly great works of art inspire everyone.
(d) Obey your spontaneous impression.

15. Why does Emerson say we distrust our sentiment?
(a) We understand the opposition.
(b) We are unsure of what others will think.
(c) We understand the work required.
(d) We are unsure of ourselves.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is a hobgoblin?

2. What does genuine action explain?

3. How does Emerson say a man feels when he has said or done something not according to his own will?

4. What does Emerson insist men carry themselves in the presence of?

5. What does Emerson say a man must know how to estimate in talking about society and nonconformity?

(see the answer keys)

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