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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. Based on Bill's advice in Chapter 9, what is very important in self-discipline?

2. What did Walter Cronkite label the Iraq War in order to criticize the Bush administration?

3. According to Bill, what drives the inequality of law enforcement?

4. What is the median life span that Bill refers to when encouraging people to take care?

5. What is it that Bill thinks made the stars what they are today?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are Bill's thoughts on tolerance?

2. According to Bill, what types of things should be avoided when a person hopes to limit the number of mistakes they make?

3. How can people be vilified when speaking about minorities? What situation did Bill experience to show the political correctness in society?

4. According to Bill, how can a person tell if they are being lied to?

5. How did the coverage of the war affect the military's fight in Iraq?

6. What was the difference in the way the police handled crime when Bill's grandfather patrolled the streets of New York?

7. Why is Chicago a good example of an overlooked inner city?

8. What are some of the reasons why Bill supports the Iraq war?

9. According to Bill, how do the media and politicians overlook the problems in the inner cities?

10. What was an example of a mistake Bill made while at CBS?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

According to Bill, friendship is an important part of life that can also be very valuable.

- Describe the value of friendship and the advantages of having trustworthy friends, based on Bill's views.

- Explain the ways that Bill believes a person can attract and maintain solid friendships with the right people.

- Describe the types of friendships that Bill thinks should be avoided and the suggestions he makes in evaluating current or potential friends impartially.

Essay Topic 2

According to Bill, America is a country that has unlimited opportunity that is available to anyone who is willing to work hard to achieve their goals.

- Describe the principles that America was founded on and why they created an inspiring climate that encourages dreams.

- Explain the importance of health, education, discipline, persistence, and independence in building a better life, according to Bill.

- Analyze Bill's advice for overcoming setbacks. How was he able to rise up from humble beginnings to become successful?

Essay Topic 3

Bill's upbringing contributed a lot to the way he approaches his life, and in the book, he discusses the influences of his father and grandfather.

- Compare and contrast Bill with his father in their approach to life, work, and people.

- Compare and contrast Bill with his grandfather in their approach to work, dealing with crime, and trust.

- Analyze the main similarities and differences of Bill, his father, and his grandfather and the most important things that Bill has learned from both of them.

- Describe how Bill uses flashbacks as a literary technique and why it is particularly effective when recounting his childhood.

(see the answer keys)

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