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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 does Burnham write about the atrocities Stalin committed?

2. How does Orwell feel about the English language?

3. How does Orwell feel about Shakespeare?

4. Burnham predicted that what nation would be victorious in World War II?

5. What was the substance of the second speaker's argument, in Chapter 8?

Short Essay Questions

1. According to Orwell, what were Burnham's political predictions based on?

2. What is Tolstoy's main target in his Shakespearean criticisms, and why?

3. What does Orwell say about Burnham's theory about Stalin?

4. Orwell feels that international sporting events have what effect on the relations between the countries involved?

5. Whom does Orwell name in Chapter 17 as a well-known nonsense poet?

6. According to Orwell, what is the reason for the dearth of good contemporary murder literature?

7. What link does Orwell establish between freedom of the press, and other forms of liberty?

8. What scene does Orwell describe as the setting for reading a good murder mystery?

9. According to Orwell, why is spring not a popular subject among his readers?

10. According to Orwell, what could the reader of "Gulliver's Travels" infer about Swift's political views?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Orwell attempts to refute the criticisms of people who don't believe that spring is something he should be writing about. Do you agree with the claims of his critics - that social injustice is a more important topic, and that people who work outdoors don't want to read about nature? Or do you agree with Orwell - that nature is just as important, and those who work outdoors have even more appreciation for nature? Provide evidence (not already provided by Orwell) to back up your opinion. Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your position.

Essay Topic 2

Orwell claims that it is impossible to have friendly international sporting events. What is his reasoning? What is the difference, according to Orwell, between friendly, local sporting events, and international competitions? What is at stake in international games? Do you agree with Orwell's reasoning? Why? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your position.

Essay Topic 3

Burnham states that capitalism is dying and that a socialist pyramid will replace it. Do you agree? Do you see Burnham's theory manifested in the United States in any way? If so, how? Do you agree with Orwell's assessment, that the Managerial Revolution has not greatly influenced the United States? In what countries do you think the Managerial Revolution has started to take effect? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text in defending your conclusions.

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