1. What refers to a tendency in contemporary culture characterized by the rejection of objective truth and global cultural narrative or meta-narrative?
(a) Pseudo-event.
(b) Post-modernism.
(c) Hyper-reality.
(d) Nonreality.

2. What does Boorstin refer to pseudo-events as, in Chapter 1 - Section IV?
(a) Stereotypes.
(b) Ambiguous truths.
(c) Ambiguous falsehoods.
(d) Appealing falsehoods.

3. What is the third characteristic of the pseudo-event, according to Boorstin?
(a) It is ambiguous.
(b) It is intentionally created.
(c) It is intended as a self-fulfilling prophecy.
(d) Its purpose is to be recreated or reported.

4. What is the second of the "extravagant expectations" held by Americans, according to Boorstin?
(a) Time is of the essence.
(b) There is always more that the world can provide.
(c) Money can buy anything.
(d) We have unlimited power to fashion the world to our desires.

5. What does Boorstin refer to propaganda as, in Chapter 1- Section IV?
(a) Ambiguous falsehoods.
(b) Appealing falsehoods.
(c) Appealing truths.
(d) Ambiguous truths.

Short Answer Questions

1. What word refers to that which is coming or resulting from a natural impulse or tendency, without effort or premeditation, natural and unconstrained?

2. What is the fourth quality of the pseudo-event, according to Boorstin?

3. How many main "extravagant expectations" does Boorstin posit Americans hold?

4. What refers to a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position?

5. In Chapter 1 - Section IV, Boorstin discusses the formation of what as a communication device for government officials?

(see the answer key)

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