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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through 24-28.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In "The Good Man," what general statement did Mencken make about mankind?
(a) Man is not perfect, and any strengths are balanced by flaws.
(b) Men are not predisposed to appreciate art, and often must be forced.
(c) Men are gluttonous, and must continually fight the urge to eat.
(d) Men are good and kind, and almost always do the right thing.

2. What was "The Art Eternal" according to Mencken?
(a) Literature.
(b) Portrait painting.
(c) Prostitution.
(d) Lying.

3. How was Theodore Dreiser like Joseph Conrad, according to Mencken?
(a) They both had a love of pirate adventures and the sea life.
(b) Both men were inherently optimistic.
(c) Both men shared an innate pessimism.
(d) They both seemed to hate women.

4. In "Gore in the Caribees," what was Mencken's perspective on the revolution in Cuba?
(a) Mencken thought the event is not newsworthy, and only reluctantly does he travel to cover it.
(b) Mencken was fervently pro-Cuba, and travels to the country to engage in propaganda.
(c) Mencken thought it is newsworthy, and he asks to cover it.
(d) Mencken refused to cover the event, and is fired by his newspaper.

5. What one thing did Mencken feel was useful from the contributions of Sigmund Freud?
(a) The notion that dreams could reveal aspects of our everyday lives.
(b) The notion that people could be easily hypnotized.
(c) The notion that "mother issues" were deeply-seated.
(d) The notion that lying stemmed from an unconscious place.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why did Mencken disagree with contemporary assessments of Abraham Lincoln?

2. Mencken provided what colorful phrase to describe a woman's body?

3. What did Mencken, somewhat tongue-in-cheek, feel about the tradition of giving medals in the military?

4. According to Mencken, why was Samuel Johnson unique as an artist?

5. What stance can Mencken be said to have taken in "Star-Spangled Man"?

(see the answer key)

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