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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What disorder does the author say makes it difficult for him to meditate?
(a) Attention deficit disorder.
(b) Autism.
(c) Asperger's syndrome.
(d) Clinical depression.

2. What is NOT a feeling listed by the author as one that fosters "wars and atrocities" (4)?
(a) Sloth.
(b) Despair.
(c) Hatred.
(d) Greed.

3. The author states that when the Buddhist techniques work, a person receives not just happiness, but what other element?
(a) A youthful smile.
(b) Clarity of vision.
(c) Tranquility.
(d) Improved health.

4. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter associated with what element?
(a) Sleep.
(b) Satiation.
(c) Hunger and the relief of hunger.
(d) Pleasure and the anticipation of pleasure.

5. How many minutes does the author say he spends meditating each morning?
(a) 40 minutes.
(b) 30 minutes.
(c) 15 minutes.
(d) 20 minutes.

6. On what object does the author say people should place themselves during meditation?
(a) A pillow.
(b) A bare floor.
(c) A cushion.
(d) A mat.

7. What is the meaning of the term metta?
(a) Loving kindness.
(b) Mantra.
(c) Saturation.
(d) Extraordinary.

8. Whom does the author name as the two people who would be on the highest end of the spectrum as far as ease of meditation goes?
(a) The Dalai Lama and Bob Ross.
(b) Mister Rogers and Bob Ross.
(c) The Dalai Lama and Mister Rogers.
(d) The Dalai Lama and Mahatma Gandhi.

9. Western Buddhism eliminates all but which of the following traditional Buddhist traditions?
(a) Meditation on one's own rotting corpse.
(b) Meditation on feces within one's body.
(c) Meditation on the pus within one's own body.
(d) The use of gongs.

10. What emotion does the author NOT list as one that is likely to arise when one feels that meditation is not going well?
(a) Anger.
(b) Frustration.
(c) Awareness.
(d) Self-loathing.

11. The first time the author attended a week-long meditation retreat, he was allowed to speak how many times?
(a) Three times.
(b) Twice.
(c) Never.
(d) Once.

12. What emotion does the author say he feels when he is getting ready for a public speaking engagement?
(a) Anxiety.
(b) Weakness.
(c) Shame.
(d) Pride.

13. What experiments are said to have "powerfully demonstrated the capacity of the conscious self to convince itself that it is calling the shots when it is not" (79)?
(a) Split-brain experiments.
(b) Dual-self experiments.
(c) Colostrum experiments.
(d) Corpus callosum experiments.

14. What adjective does the author apply to the phenomenon of road rage?
(a) Logical.
(b) Crazy.
(c) Silly.
(d) False.

15. How did the author feel when his meditation teacher told him that his frustration with meditation was a good sign?
(a) Assured.
(b) Proud.
(c) Patronized.
(d) Ashamed.

Short Answer Questions

1. The author uses the example of his childhood experiences with the Tooth Fairy in order to demonstrate what concept?

2. To what movie does the first chapter, entitled "Taking the Red Pill," refer?

3. What is the name of the professor of Psychology at Pennsylvania State University discussed by the author?

4. Whom does the author name as being on the lowest end of the spectrum in relation to how easy it will be for a person to pick up meditation?

5. What is the English translation of the word dukkha?

(see the answer keys)

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