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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which of the following is not a photo that Antonio Damasio shows Elliot to elicit an emotional reaction?
(a) A nude woman.
(b) An earthquake area.
(c) A flood.
(d) A accident scene.

2. What idea for a topic does Harold come up with his first night of writing?
(a) He decides to focus on Odysseus.
(b) He decides to focus on the idea of honor.
(c) He comes up with no ideas.
(d) He narrows down his topics to two.

3. What famous intellect does Brooks mention at the end of his introduction?
(a) Hofstadter.
(b) Vidal.
(c) Hawking.
(d) Hume.

4. According to Brooks in the Introduction what do Harold and Erica inherit?
(a) Their intellects.
(b) Their self-images.
(c) Their capacity to love.
(d) Their politics.

5. In Chapter 4, Harold illustrates his ability to abstract by saying he is what?
(a) An airplane.
(b) A tiger.
(c) A giant.
(d) A cloud.

6. What is Ms. Taylor's tactic for making children learn?
(a) She teaches them to take pleasure in it.
(b) She uses references to popular culture.
(c) She pays them.
(d) She drills information into them.

7. According to Brooks at the beginning of Chapter 1, what large accessory do his social ascendants always have?
(a) A huge dog.
(b) A huge television.
(c) A huge pool.
(d) A huge unvarnished dining table.

8. Based on a misunderstanding with his parents in Chapter 5, what does Harold fear will happen if he does not behave?
(a) He will be starved.
(b) He won't get to go to school.
(c) His hands will be cut off.
(d) He'll be sent to China.

9. What is the story Julia tells Harold in Chapter 5 about?
(a) Her parents.
(b) Her first day of school.
(c) A road trip.
(d) The day he was born.

10. How many children do Brooks' wealthy socialites all have in Chapter 1?
(a) Two.
(b) None.
(c) One.
(d) Three.

11. What is laughter's major purpose, according to Brooks?
(a) Showing respect.
(b) Forming bonds.
(c) Disarming foes.
(d) Communicating directions.

12. In Chapter 4, what is Harold's favorite pastimes besides bonding with Julia?
(a) Sleeping.
(b) Pulling things off tables.
(c) Riding the dog.
(d) Bonding with Rob.

13. By the end of Chapter 6, Ms. Taylor has taught Harold to do what?
(a) Experience life.
(b) Read.
(c) Let go.
(d) Learn.

14. What does Brooks say his day job is in the introduction?
(a) Speaking on television.
(b) Teaching.
(c) Writing about politics.
(d) Giving paid lectures.

15. In Chapter 1, what does Julie insist on keeping on during sex?
(a) Her hat.
(b) Her glasses.
(c) Her socks.
(d) Her shirt.

Short Answer Questions

1. What terms does Brooks use at the beginning of Chapter 1 to describe the upper-middle class liberal socialites of today?

2. In the beginning of Chapter 5, to what does Brooks compare Harold's writing on his worksheet?

3. According to Brooks in Chapter 1, everyone likes to believe that he/she is what?

4. What subject does Ms. Taylor teach?

5. Whose method does Brooks acknowledge he is borrowing in the introduction?

(see the answer keys)

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