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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 refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 large professional theaters with 500 seats or more located in the Theater District, New York?

2. What system does Boorstin assert affected "traditional forms of achievement," in Chapter 4 - Section VIII?

3. In Chapter 5 - Section V, Boorstin states that even ____ have become blurred because of the relentless drive of business and consumerism.

4. Daniel J. Boorstin was appointed twelfth Librarian of the United States Congress from 1975 until when?

5. What refers to a physical likeness or representation of a person, animal, or thing, photographed, painted, sculptured, or otherwise made visible?

Short Essay Questions

1. What shift in the American psyche does Boorstin describe in Chapter 6 - Section I?

2. How does Boorstin define "ideal-thinking" and "image-thinking"?

3. What suggestions does Boorstin give to the American people at the close of the book?

4. What does Boorstin suggest was the impact of Reader's Digest on the populace? What is Reader's Digest?

5. Why does Boorstin believe the American image is viewed negatively by other nations?

6. What changes to the printing industry does Boorstin describe in Chapter 4 - Section I?

7. What does Boorstin believe is responsible for the mass production of art? What effect does this cause?

8. What is Boorstin's subject in Chapter 6 - Section IV? How is the effect discussed defined?

9. How does Boorstin define "passivity" in the image in Chapter 5 - Section I?

10. How does Boorstin compare domestic and foreign issues in Chapter 6 - Section III?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the impact of the development of the hotel and motel industry in America. Where and how did Conrad Hilton establish his first hotel?

Essay Topic 2

Describe the effect and influence of the development and publication of digests, such as "Reader's Digest." What does Boorstin conclude the effect was on literature?

Essay Topic 3

What are the characteristics described of the pseudo-event in Chapter 1? Define each and give examples from the text.

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