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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How does Camus's essay influence Stryon's philosophy of life?
(a) It makes him realize mankind's responsibility for the larger world.
(b) It makes him realize life is too short.
(c) It makes him realize depression could be overcome if the person just cheered himself up.
(d) It makes him realize depression was a personal thing.

2. Why is Styron not worried about the loss?
(a) He feels he is justified in getting angry.
(b) He is so depressed and lethargic that nothing matters to him.
(c) He knows he will be okay later.
(d) He knows his friend will be his friend again.

3. What does Styron say about alcohol's mood-altering characteristics?
(a) It lightened his mood for a good amount of time.
(b) It is a depressant, but didn't depress him.
(c) It had no effect on his mood.
(d) It is an upper, but depressed him.

4. After Primo Levi's suicide, what causes Styron to question the common view that those who commit suicide are weak and inept?
(a) Levi worked out all the time and was very strong.
(b) Levi was involved in so many good causes.
(c) Levi was such a good writer.
(d) Levi had survived the Auschwitz and cared for his paralyzed mother.

5. Why is it hard for Styron to recognize depression in his friend, Gary?
(a) Because he didn't know what depression looked like.
(b) Because Gary was so good at hiding his feelings.
(c) Because Gary always had a melancholy typical of Europeans.
(d) Because he rarely talked to Gary.

Short Answer Questions

1. What two people does Styron think of while leaving Paris?

2. How does Styron feel about his Connecticut farmhouse?

3. What happens to Gary's ex-wife?

4. When is depression at its worst?

5. What does Styron say depression is like?

Short Essay Questions

1. What did Styron say is true of those who suffer from severe depression and recover?

2. Why did Cino del Duca, whom the award was named for, decide to publish works of literary merit?

3. Styron gave little credence to his outpatient therapy, but said what about the 50 minutes involved?

4. Why was the suicide of Albert Camus and Romain Gary so devastating to Styron?

5. What term did Stryon say was a more apt description of depression than that word itself?

6. What is the relationship between artistic temperaments and suicide and what was Styron's appeal in relationship to it?

7. As Styron contemplated and planned for his suicide, what two feelings did he describe?

8. Why did Styron say it was so hard for family members to accept a person's suicide, and what did they usually do about it?

9. What hope does Styron offer to those who survive depression?

10. What effect did watching the flight of a flock of Canadian geese have on Styron?

(see the answer keys)

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