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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 is the Stanford-Binet test?

2. What does Gladwell delay discussing until the next chapter?

3. What does Gladwell call having a higher IQ?

4. What data does the table that Gladwell consults to theorize the success of some of the best hockey players in the country include?

5. How are children grouped to play hockey in the country Gladwell discusses?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. With what definition does Gladwell open his book?

3. How are students in the hockey leagues grouped and what is the way the children move into other leagues?

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

5. How does Joy and some of his fellow students make it possible to use the computers more than is allowed and what is the result?

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

7. What does IQ stand for and who developed a test to measure it?

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

9. What did the experiment track and what are the results?

10. When are most of Canada's best hockey players born, and why does Barnley think that is so?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Kentucky is settled by people who come from a "culture of honor." Back in Britain, they are herdsmen and herding cultures worldwide have commonly developed such a culture, Gladwell explains. In a culture of honor, loyalty to one's family or clan is the most important thing. People from this background are driven to defend their families and are quick to respond to any perceived threat.

1. Discuss what a culture of honor is in your own words. Use examples from Outliers to support your answer.

2. Do you think honor can be a good value if used properly? Why or why not? Use examples from Outliers to support your answer.

3. What do you think are the dangers in too much loyalty to one's family or a over blown sense of honor? Use examples from Outliers to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Gladwell writes his opinions on education in the public schools as opposed to pilot schools or Asian schools. Discuss one of the following:

1. Discuss and analyze three major ideas Gladwell has about education.

2. How are Gladwell's ideas about education supported by his research? Or not? Discuss with examples.

3. Discuss what a school would be like that uses all of Gladwell's ideas about education. Use examples from Outliers to support your answer.

Essay Topic 3

Gladwell has cited a number of people in this book. Discuss he following:

1. Choose three people whom Gladwell mentions positively and give a brief idea of his opinions about those three people (or stereotypes). Use examples from Outliers to support your answer.

2. Choose three people whom Gladwell mentions negatively and give a brief idea of his opinions about those three people (or stereotypes). Use examples from Outliers to support your answer.

3. Judging what Gladwell says about different people in his text, how would you characterize him as a friend? As a colleague? Use examples from Outliers to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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