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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. What does Wolf learn when he examines the diets of the people of Roseto?

2. Who is Anders Ericcson?

3. What is the conclusion Terman comes to about high IQ children?

4. What company does Joy co-found?

5. What is 30 to 35 percent lower in Roseto than the rest of the country?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is the local physician's claim unusual, and what does Wolf decide to do?

2. To what does Gladwell attribute the difference between Langan and Oppenheimer?

3. What table of data does Gladwell insert in his book at this point?

4. With what definition does Gladwell open his book?

5. Where is Roseto and who founded it?

6. What does Wolf investigate and what does he learn?

7. What is the origination of the title of this chapter, "The Matthew Effect"?

8. What does Gladwell write about the rock group called The Beatles?

9. What is Langan working on and when does he expect to publish it?

10. What does Gladwell say a surface examination of the Canadian hockey league system would suggest?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Gladwell measured things such as to what extent the people of a country trust and follow authority, and with what degree of willingness. This measurement is called the "Power Distance Index" or PDI. Countries like the United States have a low PDI, meaning that people interact with figures of authority without much deference and are ready to challenge authority when the situation calls for it. Countries like South Korea and Colombia have a high PDI, meaning that they recognize many levels of authority in a cultural hierarchy and are reluctant to challenge authority.

1. Why do you think recognizing many levels of authority in a cultural hierarchy might influence a person to not challenge authority? Use examples from Outliers to support your answer.

2. Give an example, not discussed in Outlier, and discuss, in depth, where challenging authority would have a negative result. Use examples from Outliers to support your answer.

3. Give an example, not discussed in Outlier, and discuss, in depth, where challenging authority would have a positive result. Use examples from Outliers to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the following:

1. What do you think are the characteristics of a successful work of non-fiction?

2. Analyze and discuss Outliers based upon the criteria you decide upon in #1 and judge if Outliers is a successful work of non-fiction/memoir.

3. Is Outliers a book you would recommend to a friend? Why or why not? Explain.

4. Can a non-fictional book be successful and yet many readers not enjoy it? Explain your response.

Essay Topic 3

Chapter 5 is called "The Three Lessons of Joe Flom." Joe Flom is a partner in a very successful New York law firm.

1. Discuss, in depth, the three lessons of Joe Flom. Use examples from Outliers to support your answer.

2. How do you think the lessons of Joe Flom might relate to the idea of fate or destiny? Use examples from Outliers to support your answer.

3. Do you think Joe's success, in his circumstances, was because he was Jewish or do you think any discriminated against minority might have fared the same? Why or why not? Use examples from Outliers to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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