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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. According to James LeDoux in Chapter 1, what is the relationship of the conscious mind to emotion?

2. What Greek term becomes the topic of Harold's paper in Chapter 6?

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

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

5. What did John Bowlby determine was key to a child's development?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Ms. Taylor guide Harold's reading in Chapter 6?

2. How does Brooks use the meeting of Julia and Rob to illustrate the surprise of similarities?

3. How does Ms. Taylor permanently affect Harold's life?

4. Why does Timothy Wilson think that the unconscious mind does the majority of the work in thinking?

5. How does Ms. Taylor shape Harold's interest in the classical world?

6. What great skill does Harold have in high school?

7. According to Brooks, what separates us from other animals?

8. How is Brooks' book different from other social studies?

9. What is the Composure Class?

10. How does Harold's tiger statement in Chapter 4 illustrate a complex human process?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In an essay, discuss the role of imagination and play in the development of children. How does Harold's imagination function both as a gift and as a liability? What fears does it engender in his parents? What delineations does Brooks draw between play in affluent children and p[lay in working class children? How does each type of play reflect a cultural stratus, and how does it indicate future development?

Essay Topic 2

Seemingly in the name of evenhandedness, David Brooks presents two protagonists with disparate backgrounds. Write a three-part essay comparing and contrasting the early lives of Harold and Erica. How are their lives different? What effect does this background have on the worldview of each? Do you think this is a realist portrayal of this life experience?

Part 1) Racial background.

Part 2) Hometown and neighborhood.

Part 3) Education.

Essay Topic 3

Harold's professional life takes an interestingly circuitous trajectory as he searches for spiritual fulfillment. Write an essay about the different stages of Harold's professional development:

Part 1) What about Erica's offer inspires Harold to end his odyssey period after college? Discuss the nature of Harold's work with the fledgling consulting firm? What skills does he develop? How does this occupation draw to a close?

Part 2) Discuss the impact working with the Historical Society has on Harold. What parts of his life does he leave behind in the process? What does he find especially fulfilling about this work?

Part 3) What ideas about politics does Harold bring to his think tank job? Discuss how Harold's previous life experience informs the policy papers he writes? What policy proposals does he produce at this think tank? How are they the culmination of his professional life?

(see the answer keys)

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