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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which of the following movements did Emerson NOT mention in his listing of "institutions"?
(a) Abolition.
(b) The Mongolian Empire.
(c) The Reformation.
(d) Monachism.

2. Why does Emerson say a character is "like an acrostic"?
(a) Trying to understand one's character can be fun.
(b) Human character is ever-changing.
(c) Human character is puzzling.
(d) No matter how you read it, it always spells the same thing.

3. What does Emerson say no man can violate?
(a) The laws of nature.
(b) The laws of society.
(c) The laws of God.
(d) His nature.

4. What does Emerson claim is the virtue "in most request"?
(a) Self-reliance.
(b) Conformity.
(c) Innocence.
(d) Formidability.

5. Who does Emerson make an example of when talking about living according to his recommendations?
(a) Great artists.
(b) Minors and invalids.
(c) True geniuses.
(d) Great men.

6. What are "sallies" of will?
(a) Motivating factors.
(b) Ventures outside of the norm.
(c) Demonstrations.
(d) Role models.

7. What is Emerson referring to when he states: "It will be found symmetrical" in talking about consistency vs. contradiction?
(a) A man's character reflects the society he lives in.
(b) A good character is always the same on the outside as on the inside.
(c) Every man's character reflects his own life.
(d) Emerson's own thoughts reflect his life.

8. What does Emerson mean when he writes: "...yet when the devout motions of the soul come, yield to them heart and life, though they should clothe God with shape and color"?
(a) You should give up your life for those that give form to God.
(b) Encourage the artists that paint the likeness of God.
(c) You will find that God has an actual form.
(d) God will take on form even if you never believed in a deity.

9. What does Emerson wish adults could return to?
(a) Their youth.
(b) Their neutrality.
(c) Their carelessness.
(d) Their true state.

10. Emerson explains in his essay exactly what it is that "scares us from self-trust." What is it?
(a) Our need to be the same as others.
(b) Our need to please others.
(c) Our religious duty.
(d) Our fear of God.

11. What does Emerson say causes a man to come to the conviction that "...envy is ignorance"?
(a) Upbringing.
(b) Wisdom.
(c) Age.
(d) Education.

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

13. To which "iron string" does Emerson say every heart vibrates?
(a) Never give up.
(b) Live thy will.
(c) Represent thyself.
(d) Trust thyself.

14. What does Emerson say he will do if he is the Devil's child?
(a) He will find the doctrines of the church.
(b) He will live from the Devil.
(c) He will live wholly.
(d) He will try to find God.

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Emerson say he does not need in talking about virtuous action?

2. Which effort does Emerson insist we obey?

3. What does Emerson say is most important about verses like the ones he mentions at the beginning of the first paragraph?

4. What does Emerson say is the lesson great works of art teach us?

5. What does genuine action explain?

(see the answer keys)

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