View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What did Perkins' daughter once do as an adult that embarrassed Perkins?

2. What terms does Brooks use to describe a life of humility versus a life of egotism in Chapter 1?

3. What was one tactic Eisenhower used when he was irritated with someone as a way of controlling his anger?

4. What kind of literature had a great impact on Day's thinking early in her adulthood?

5. What does Brooks say, in Chapter 3, is the most powerful way of fighting sin?

Short Essay Questions

1. What was Eisenhower's personal opinion of General Douglas MacArthur?

2. Why did Dorothy Day move to New York at age 18 and what kind of work did she end up doing at first?

3. What was Hull House modeled after?

4. What is the main difference between a career and a vocation as Brooks describes it?

5. What is Eisenhower's farewell speech when he left the presidency still remembered for today?

6. What did Viktor Frankl tell potential suicides in the concentration camp during WWII?

7. What does Brooks say are the ultimate joys in Chapter 1?

8. What event in young Dwight Eisenhower's life prompted his mother to read him a Bible verse about conquering his own soul that had a great impact on his adult life?

9. What historic event happened when Dorothy Day was 8 years old?

10. How does Brooks define the so-called "Big Me" culture?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How did the writer George Eliot's (born Mary Anne Evans) life and writings change dramatically after her relationship with George Henry Lewes developed? Write an essay explaining your answer.

Essay Topic 2

In Chapter 5, Brooks describes George Marshall's incentive to excel in school as having its roots in proving his brother's insults about Marshall's lack of intelligence and ability wrong. Write an essay exploring how Brooks uses many specific, intimate details about Marshall's college years at VMI and his early career to endear Marshall to readers and to provide a vivid picture of his character and his life.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay analyzing how the radio program Command Performance, the WWII-era radio show that Brooks heard on NPR, inspired his writing of The Road to Character, citing specific references to the text to support your answer .

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 711 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample