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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What comment does Camus make about Greek tragedy?
(a) It is rich in lessons.
(b) It is over-estimated.
(c) It is obscure, hard to comprehend.
(d) It is too culturally specific to be useful.

2. What argument does Camus dismiss as 'a matter of profound indifference'?
(a) Whether or not the earth revolves around the sun.
(b) Whether or not the Bible is literally true.
(c) The absurd dilemma.
(d) The ontological argument.

3. What information do we have about Sisyphus in the underworld?
(a) That he pursued La Belle Helene.
(b) That he fought Orpheus over Eurydice.
(c) Nothing.
(d) That he stole Pluto's wine.

4. What binds a man to the absurd?
(a) His intelligence.
(b) Philosophy.
(c) His consciousness of it.
(d) His sentient nature regarding death.

5. In what way is a modern worker similar to Sisyphus?
(a) The worker is a slave like Sisyphus.
(b) The worker is forbidden to innovate.
(c) The tasks they have to do are too hard for them.
(d) The worker spends every day at the same tasks.

6. What is Camus' attitude to genius?
(a) It is anti-democratic.
(b) It must be nurtured.
(c) It excuses everything.
(d) It excuses nothing.

7. Which philosopher claims that anxiety is at the source of everything?
(a) Sartre.
(b) Aristotle.
(c) Heidegger.
(d) St. Augustine.

8. What is the prime interest of everyday man?
(a) Himself and his potentialities.
(b) The world and what he can get out of it.
(c) Study and personal growth.
(d) The Darwinian drive to procreate the species.

9. What was Sisyphus' attitude to the gods?
(a) He scorned them.
(b) He worshipped them and wanted to be a god, too.
(c) He viewed them with horror and distrust.
(d) He was insanely jealous of them.

10. Who is the hero of Metamorphosis?
(a) Michael K.
(b) Samson.
(c) Samsa.
(d) Joseph K.

11. What is the legendary Faust remembered for?
(a) Killing his mistress.
(b) Living for a very long time.
(c) Selling his soul to the Devil.
(d) As an alchemist.

12. How does Camus see Sisyphus vis-a-vis his fate?
(a) Sisyphus is a victim of playful gods.
(b) Sisyphus is crushed by the rock.
(c) Sisyphus is crushed by his fate.
(d) Sisyphus is superior to his fate.

13. What is the main idea in the final paragraph of the essay 'The Myth of Sisyphus'?
(a) The struggle for achievement is enough: it is its own reward.
(b) We can't be free unless the gods allow it.
(c) No matter how hard we struggle, the gods will always win.
(d) All we can do is struggle.

14. According to Camus, what is tiresome about the human attitude to fate?
(a) It hasn't changed in a thousand years.
(b) We take credit for happiness, but blame fate for what crushes us.
(c) It tends to make us inactive.
(d) It is unrealistic.

15. What is a characteristic of wisdom?
(a) Living with faith and integrity and reserving judgement.
(b) Living on what one has, not speculating about what one does not have.
(c) Knowing when to take things on trust, as well as when not to.
(d) Being able to supply a rationale for any action.

Short Answer Questions

1. What has Camus to say about 'great revolutions'?

2. What embodies 'a drama of the intelligence', according to Camus?

3. What is indicated when melancholy arises in the human heart?

4. What comment of Nietzsche's does Camus make reference to near the beginning of the chapter on Philosophy and Fiction?

5. How are myths given life?

(see the answer keys)

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