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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 Emerson say adults feel in looking into the faces of children?
(a) Powerful.
(b) Disconcerted.
(c) Conquered.
(d) Hopeful.

2. What are boys sure of in Emerson's example of how boys speak their mind?
(a) Their friends.
(b) Their dinner.
(c) Themselves.
(d) Their parents.

3. What does Emerson say a man speaking his opinions would do to other men?
(a) Force them to see the truth.
(b) Force them to listen.
(c) Force them to tell the truth.
(d) Put them in fear.

4. What is an institution the lengthened shadow of?
(a) One man.
(b) A series of geniuses.
(c) All great men.
(d) A great character.

5. What does Emerson say about the occurrence of virtues?
(a) Virtue comes through action.

(b) Society helps sustain virtue.
(c) Men are virtuous by nature.
(d) They are the exception rather than the rule.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Emerson say boys don't worry about?

2. Who wrote the verses that Emerson mentions at the beginning of the first paragraph?

3. Who does Emerson say the youth speaks forcefully to?

4. What does Emerson insist men carry themselves in the presence of?

5. How does Emerson say he knows it makes no difference whether he does or forbears "...those actions which are reckoned excellent"?

Short Essay Questions

1. After giving his example of "boys who are sure of a dinner" in paragraph 5, Emerson laments that adults cannot return to this neutrality. He explains what he believes would happen if we could. What does he believe would happen?

2. At the end of paragraph 36, Emerson relates the story of Caratach in Fletcher's "Bonduca," who is "admonished to inquire the mind of the god Audate." In your own words, describe Caratach's response.

3. In paragraph 33, Emerson says, "We are become timorous, desponding whimperers." Explain what he means by this.

4. What do you know about Ralph Waldo Emerson?

5. In paragraph 27, Emerson claims that "Nature suffers nothing to remain in her kingdoms which cannot help itself." State briefly whether you agree or disagree and support your point with a couple of examples.

6. Emerson makes an important point about who or what one will see along the way "in the hour of vision" in paragraph 25. What does he say?

7. In paragraph 14, Emerson portrays the relationship between consistency and being misunderstood. Explain this relationship.

8. What does Emerson say about technological advancement?

9. In paragraph 14, Emerson explains the relationship between being misunderstood and greatness. Explain this relationship.

10. What does Emerson say about property?

(see the answer keys)

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