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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What contradiction does Beauvoir suggest will come to those who fight for a cause due to the complexity of the world?
(a) In order to win an urgent victory, one may be brought to the point of fighting against valid causes.
(b) In order to win an urgent victory, one may be brought to face a humiliating defeat.
(c) In order to win an urgent victory, one may be brought to sacrifice his principles.
(d) In order to win an urgent victory, one may be brought to leaving a valued friend.

2. According to Beauvoir, upon what do politicians rely to sustain their influence over individuals?
(a) The power and brutality of police.
(b) A utopian view of the future.
(c) The guile and persuasion of well constructed statements.
(d) The subjective use of history.

3. How does Beauvoir illustrate her example proves her point that, "festivals stop the movement of transcendence?"
(a) Throughout history empires leave the discipline that made their systems transcendent for the pleasures found during festivals.
(b) Christians allow the influences of pagan observances to obscure the principles of the Bible.
(c) The festival regarding the liberation of Paris allowed people to temporarily ignore the coming difficulties that were to come to their post-war society.
(d) Pagans who adopt Christian labels for the celebrations are starting the process of renouncing their paganism.

4. For whom do Beauvoir and Marx agree that the cause of freedom is most urgent?
(a) Women who are unaware of the subjugation to men.
(b) The proletariat who is controlled by the bourgeois.
(c) To the oppressed that it appears as immediately necessary.
(d) The unenlightened who does not realize their exploitation.

5. What does Beauvoir claim to be the meaning and substance of all action?
(a) The future.
(b) Freedom.
(c) Existentialism.
(d) Ambiguity.

6. What is the future that Beauvoir sees for herself?
(a) The infinite and as Totality, as number and as unity of conciliation.
(b) That movement which will fulfill her present projects and will surpass them toward new ends.
(c) A reality which is given at each moment.
(d) The opportunity retrieve herself as beings in Glory, Happiness, or justice.

7. How does Beauvoir claim an individual can prevent life from being defined as an escape toward nothingness?
(a) Projects must be taken in consideration of their consequences.
(b) Existence must be asserted in the present.
(c) Impossible or utopian goals must not be set.
(d) All goals must consider the ambiguity of all life.

8. When does Beauvoir suggest an individual might adopt the Aesthetic Attitude?
(a) During efforts of an individual to will themselves free.
(b) During times of oppression.
(c) When he recognizes that his freedom is secured when he is not with others.
(d) During moments of discouragement and confusion.

9. What is the meaning that Beauvoir gives to Festivals?
(a) Politicians use festivals to obscure their oppression.
(b) Individuals in festivals attempt to escape the uncertainty of the future.
(c) Societies use festivals to exalt their virtues.
(d) Existence attempts in festivals to confirm itself as positive.

10. According to Beauvoir, if every man is free:
(a) He cannot will himself free.
(b) His will must remain free.
(c) He is free to oppress the freedom of others.
(d) He must work to free other men.

11. What example did Beauvoir use to show how those who fight for a cause will come to accept certain contradictions.
(a) Politicians who were defeated in elections by foretelling the realized negative consequences of popular programs.
(b) Martyrs who were killed by authoritarians who sought to kill their causes, but their deaths gave it more influence.
(c) Natives who fought freedom from the British Empire during WWII with the support of Fascist regimes.
(d) Generals who were willing to pull their soldiers from battle so they could win a more important battle later.

12. What does Beauvoir note to be the objection of oppressors who are facing overthrow for the cause of freedom?
(a) Overthrowing the order of oppressors threatens to subject all to barbarism.
(b) Overthrowing oppressors will bring neophytes to incompetently administer the principles of law and justice.
(c) By overthrowing their oppression, the freedom of oppressors is being deprived.
(d) Those who overthrow an oppressor are only seeking the power to oppress.

13. How does Beauvoir claim failure affects art and science?
(a) Failure has no effect on art and science.
(b) Art and science establish themselves through failure.
(c) Art and science are set back because of failure.
(d) Art and science ignore failure.

14. Why does Beauvoir claim one cannot assert that everything may be the object of contemplation?
(a) Because all action is combined with contemplation.
(b) Because man never contemplates, he does.
(c) Because contemplation cannot exist without action.
(d) Because the most notable events in history often take up action and forsake contemplation.

15. What does Beauvoir mean when she refers to "The Antinomies of Action"?
(a) That actions, not words, are most effective against oppression.
(b) That improper actions against oppression will lead to more oppression.
(c) That the intentions of the those who act against oppression must be constantly in check.
(d) That often in the fight for or against oppression, the action contradicts the motivation.

Short Answer Questions

1. According to Beauvoir, why does society exist?

2. How does Beauvoir define the present?

3. What type of individual does Beauvoir claim adopts the Aesthetic Attitude?

4. What comes of the man of action who does not recognize the ambiguity that appears during the pursuit of his goal, according to Beauvoir?

5. What does Beauvoir suggest of movements whose means of achieving a goal contradicts the goal?

(see the answer keys)

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