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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 was Rhodesia ruled by?

2. According to Lessing, people crave__________.

3. According to Lessing, what do novelists have the ability to do?

4. During a riot in Brussels, what shocking act did humans perform on corpses?

5. What does Lessing believe that humans know?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Lessing's prediction concerning what every viewpoint will become with time?

2. In terms of collective beliefs during her life time, what idiocy struck Lessing?

3. Why was Lessing not surprised by the story of the attack on the British miner who was beaten by his friends?

4. What was the purpose of cutting down a tree associated with a traitor? Why did Lessing find it ridiculous?

5. What comments did Lessing make about the length of time the white ruling class was in power in Rhodesia?

6. What ideas do the quotes prior to "When in the Future They Look Back on Us" demonstrate?

7. Why did Lessing believe the tendency to buy into vilification was a form of popular lunacy?

8. According to Lessing, how is the group mentality different from individual mentality?

9. Why was Lessing discouraged by the application of behavioral data uncovered through the "soft sciences"?

10. What is remarkable about the fact that the blacks were treated as second class citizens in Rhodesia?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Examine one of the following examples, supporting or refuting Lessing's belief that these groups vilified the opposition in order to uphold their cause.

1) The miner who was beaten in Britain.

2) The Christian religion.

3) The political Left.

Essay Topic 2

Lessing believed that the human race would be stronger and better if it could only learn from its past. Why do humans choose to ignore history, with the effect of repeating lessons that should have already been learned?

1) In what ways do humans have the ability to learn from history?

2) What are some examples in history that humans should learn from?

3) Why do humans often end up repeating mistakes already made in the past?

Essay Topic 3

The idea of democracy has been around for years. Lessing believed that, with time and the support of free thinkers, it will continue to grow and develop.

1) What is democracy and who started it?

2) What are some challenges it has faced?

3) Where does Lessing see it going in the future?

(see the answer keys)

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