View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. At what point does Beauvoir declare the death of an individual is not a failure?
(a) When it is integrated into a project which surpasses the limits of life.
(b) If his death leads to the victory of his cause.
(c) When the cause for which he died preserves freedom for all.
(d) If the cause for which he died is carried on by his survivors.

2. What example does Beauvoir use to illustrate "...festivals (that) stop the movement of transcendence?"
(a) Noted festivals through history note the coming decadence and collapse of the societies that embraced them.
(b) Pagan festivals that adopt Christian labels ignore the conflict between the two.
(c) The festivals celebrating the liberation of Paris exalted the end of the history of Nazi occupation of Paris.
(d) Christian festivals that have been implemented during pagan observations separate Christian doctrine from its literary roots.

3. What does Beauvoir mean when she writes, "...festivals whose role is to stop the movement of transcendence?"
(a) The end has been set up as an end.
(b) Festivals marking a movement's success obscure the means used to attain the success.
(c) Festivals become both a means and an end to obscure the meaninglessness of both the present and the future.
(d) Festivals take people away from their future ambiguity.

4. What type of individual does Beauvoir claim adopts the Aesthetic Attitude?
(a) One who uses his freedom to guide others to consider the world in detached contemplation.
(b) One who only contemplates his freedom while he is among others.
(c) One who claims to have no other relation with the world than that of detached contemplation.
(d) One who detaches freedom from will.

5. How does Beauvoir explain that an individual might be responsible for what they accept, but not guilty for acting upon it?
(a) An individual is responsible for what he learns because he applies it, but he is not guilty because those who are affected have freedom to reject him.
(b) An individual is responsible for what he learns in the world because he is responsible for his presence, but he is not guilty if his adhesion to beliefs is not a resignation of his freedom.
(c) An individual is responsible for what he learns because he can reject it, but he is not guilty for actions that come from his teaching.
(d) An individual is responsible for what he learns because he takes time to learn it, but he is not guilty for those who face unintended consequences.

Short Answer Questions

1. How does Beauvoir define the present?

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

3. How does Beauvoir suggest violent action against oppression becomes a contradiction to the cause of freedom?

4. When an individual aims at a goal that will be achieved beyond his own death, what does Beauvoir claim the individual should expect from the time given to the goal?

5. How does Beauvoir claim that oppressive regimes become stronger?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Beauvoir claim becomes of those who adopt the Aesthetic Attitude?

2. How does Beauvoir criticize the claim that life is absurdity?

3. Why does Beauvoir suggest man's life must always be an energetic striving?

4. How does Beauvoir define the Aesthetic Attitude?

5. What is the contradiction that Beauvoir states regarding the difficulty of living the in the modern age?

6. What does Beauvoir mean when she says life id ambiguous?

7. What is the main criticism that Beauvoir makes of the Aesthetic Attitude?

8. What is an example that Beauvoir uses to illustrate the "Antinomies of Action"?

9. Why does Beauvoir write that the only way way that the oppressed can fulfill his freedom is through revolt?

10. How does Beauvoir characterize freedom that is won through denying freedom to others?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,042 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample