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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. Who introduces Erica to Harold?

2. In Chapter 9, what do both sides of Erica's family expect of her after the Academy?

3. What is the physical indication that Erica and Harold's relationship is becoming romantic in Chapter 13?

4. How long is the memo the insurgents produce in Chapter 16?

5. Where do Harold and Erica meet at the beginning of Chapter 13?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the ideology of Rationalism.

2. How does Harold battle overweening passion in Chapter 13?

3. What does Brooks assess the search for harmony in Chapter 13?

4. In Chapter 9, what does Brooks say is often true ambitious individuals?

5. How do the founders of the Academy view poverty in America?

6. How does Erica get into the Academy in Chapter 7?

7. How does Erica almost get arrested in Chapter 7?

8. What traumatic event occurs to Erica during a tennis match in Chapter 8?

9. What different trajectories do Harold and Erica's lives take in Chapter 15?

10. How does the business collapse in Chapter 14?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Write an essay about Erica's consulting firm. What compels her to start her own business, and what understanding of business and humanity does she bring to it? Discuss the path to success she has, and what role Harold plays in this success. How does her business grow, and how does it suffer as a result of the Great Recession? What personal toll does the death of her company have on Erica?

Essay Topic 3

The narrative of "The Social Animal" details how two talented, curious individuals achieve great success. Because these are not prodigies, their paths cross many mentors and preternatural talents. Write an essay about three mentors and talents. How does this person interact with Harold and Erica? What information does he or she impart? How does this personal unveil talents in one or both of the protagonists?

Part 1) Ms. Taylor.

Part 2) Raymond.

Part 3) Richard Grace.

(see the answer keys)

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