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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 say about the Nazis?

2. According to Orwell, what was Gandhi's youth like?

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

4. What treatment is described as a spectator sport on the ward?

5. The fourth speaker, in Chapter 8, defended the purges in what country?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is the prisoner in Chapter 2?

2. What is Orwell's opinion about book reviews?

3. According to Tolstoy, how did Shakespeare get such a grand reputation?

4. Orwell cites the riots after the 1936 Olympic Games as proof of what?

5. How does Orwell describe the prisoner?

6. What type of children's literature does Orwell prefer?

7. How does Orwell define a "Good Bad Book" in Chapter 16?

8. How does Orwell respond to the critics of his spring essays?

9. According to Orwell, why don't people read?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Orwell's essay about Gandhi is not flattering, but he grudgingly admits that Gandhi impresses him, in some ways. What does Orwell dislike most about Gandhi, and his practices? How does Orwell's opinion of Gandhi change, after reading his autobiography? How does Orwell feel about Gandhi's policy of "Satyagraha," and why? 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

Orwell extols the virtues of children's literature, such as "Superman", over those of "Tom Sawyer", and other similar stories. Do you agree with Orwell's position? In what ways is "Superman" superior to "Tom Sawyer", as children's literature? Are there any ways in which "Tom Sawyer" is better? Orwell claims that "Tom Sawyer" gives children a "false map" of the world - what false ideals do they get from stories like "Superman"? Which set of falsehoods is preferable? Why? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your position.

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