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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 creature intervenes as the prisoner is being led to his execution?

2. Why does the narrator eventually shoot the elephant?

3. What is the symbol of Gulliver's aging?

4. What does Orwell say is the sole purpose of a metaphor?

5. In principle, with whom does the narrator side?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Orwell describe the prisoner?

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

3. What are Orwell's criteria for a "perfect" murder?

4. Who are the individuals that Orwell uses as examples in Chapter 13?

5. According to the evidence Orwell presents from "Gulliver's Travels", how does Gulliver feel about science?

6. What is Orwell's problem with the use of words like "romantic" or "vitality"?

7. How has Orwell's situation been reversed in Chapter 3?

8. What does Orwell say about the mating of toads?

9. What is the substance of Burnham's "Managerial Revolution", as relayed by Orwell in Chapter 9?

10. How does Orwell prove his theory about the lack of good murder literature?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the character of the crowd. What are the main characteristics of the crowd? What is Orwell's relationship with the crowd? What does the crowd represent? What is the overall significance of the crowd's character? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your position.

Essay Topic 2

Orwell feels that good books should receive long reviews, while poorly-written books should be handled with reviews of only a few lines. How do you feel about his proposition? Have you ever gained useful information from a bad review? Have you ever thought that a good review was too long? Or do you agree that poorly-written books are undeserving of attention? 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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