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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What three considerations an individual make before acting are abstract, according to Beauvoir?
(a) Does the action lead to a goal, is it transcendent, will it affect the self.
(b) Is the action possible, is it future-oriented, will it affect the self.
(c) Is the action ambiguous, is it mental, is it physical.
(d) Is the action practical, is it good, is it bad.

2. How does Beauvoir suggest violent action against oppression becomes a contradiction to the cause of freedom?
(a) Because conquering enemies requires reducing the enemies to things and those who fight oppression must reduce themselves to things as well.
(b) Because those who fight oppression must oppress those who fight with them to command the battle.
(c) Because those who see oppressors as being beneficial will believe they fight for freedom in defense of an oppressor.
(d) Because those who fight oppression generally desire the power of those they attempt to overthrow.

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

4. How will an oppressor use history to justify his oppression, according to Beauvoir?
(a) He will subjectively use the past to justify his power.
(b) He will point out only past actions of his benevolence.
(c) He will negative aspects of history that existed before his power was attained.
(d) He will create new history to confuse his enemies.

5. How does Beauvoir establish the relationship between things and man in human action?
(a) Things remain through history after the actions of man bring them to reality.
(b) This sustain the actions of man by presenting themselves as obstacles.
(c) Things are the result of the actions of man and help man transcend time and space.
(d) Things validate the actions of man through being the products of projects of man.

6. What Beauvoir claim to happen to a democratic regime that defends itself by acts of oppression?
(a) It faces the possibility of becoming oppressive.
(b) It is pursuing political goals.
(c) It is embracing the ambiguity of existence.
(d) It betrays its virtues.

7. Of what does Beauvoir accuse political parties in their effort to control the ambiguity of the human condition?
(a) Abuse of language.
(b) Glorifying war.
(c) Making contradictory statements to appeal to all people.
(d) Creating conflicts.

8. What example does Beauvoir use to illustrate "The Antinomies of Action"?
(a) That the thinkers who can define the evils of oppression actually become oppressors by making people realize their plight but offering no action to correct it.
(b) If those who lead actions against oppression are not under continual scrutiny, they will plan insurrections for their own benefit.
(c) That unwise action against oppressors taken without considering the future will lead to more vicious oppression by opportunists.
(d) Men who commit violence against an oppressor for the cause of freedom become oppressors themselves and must reduce the oppressor as a thing to be removed.

9. What influence does Beauvoir claim revolt has on the world.
(a) Revolt affects even those who have adopted the Aesthetic Attitude and forces the realities of the world on every man.
(b) Revolt rises from the recognition of oppression and brings freedom to the world.
(c) Revolt does not wish to be integrated, but to break the world's continuity.
(d) Revolt rises from a detachment from things and eventually leads to oppression through the desire to control things.

10. In the challenge for those who suffer more than one oppressor, what answer does Beauvoir offer?
(a) The issue is moral, not political, and the moral consensus must be reached with at least one oppressor.
(b) Only by generating full support of the masses could any of the oppressors be dispatched.
(c) Only by working with the least offensive of the oppressors could other oppressors be removed.
(d) Overthrowing the oppressors is a matter of opportunity and efficiency.

11. How is Beauvoir asking each one to confirm their existence through the ethics of ambiguity?
(a) By the transcendence of goals.
(b) As a value for all others.
(c) By combining mind to matter through projects.
(d) As a means to an end.

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

13. How does Beauvoir summarize Hegel's view of the future?
(a) The future can only be affected if one accepts the validity of the projects they take as contributing to it.
(b) The future is organic because it is built on the lives and sacrifices of the past.
(c) The future will only begin when the socialist state ends prehistory and begins real history.
(d) The future is not stationary because the mind is restless and the struggle for the future never ceases.

14. What does Beauvoir recognize as the paradox that faces a man who is willing to fight for a valid cause?
(a) No action can be generated for man without its being immediately generated against men.
(b) Man can only assure better life by causing death to those who would destroy it.
(c) The only way a man can make an important gain is to sacrifice something equally important.
(d) Only sacrifice can lead to achievement.

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What knowledge comes to the man who has known real loves, real revolts, real desires and real will according to Beauvoir?

2. At what point does Beauvoir declare the death of an individual is not a failure?

3. What are the two clans that Beauvoir claims to come from oppression?

4. What does Beauvoir claim is needed to make an ethical choice in a complex situation?

5. According to Beauvoir, why does society exist?

(see the answer keys)

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