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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through 24-28.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What do saints have in common with scientists?
(a) Both unselfishly serve mankind.
(b) Both corrupt the truth to suit their best interests.
(c) Both simply seek the truth.
(d) Both manipulate public opinion to advance their own position.

2. What was the subject of "The Noble Experiment"?
(a) A scientific breakthrough Mencken reported on.
(b) The Cuban revolution.
(c) Voting during World War I.
(d) Drinking during Prohibition.

3. What cheeky nickname did Mencken give Theodore Dreiser?
(a) The Jack Ripper of the novel.
(b) The Hindenburg of the novel.
(c) The Frankenstein of the short story.
(d) The Clown Prince of prose.

4. What one thing did Mencken feel was useful from the contributions of Sigmund Freud?
(a) The notion that lying stemmed from an unconscious place.
(b) The notion that dreams could reveal aspects of our everyday lives.
(c) The notion that "mother issues" were deeply-seated.
(d) The notion that people could be easily hypnotized.

5. According to "The Skeptic," what do women always bear?
(a) The burden of caring for families.
(b) The strength of their religious convictions.
(c) A strong sense of household finances.
(d) A healthy mistrust of their husbands.

Short Answer Questions

1. What stance can Mencken be said to have taken in "Star-Spangled Man"?

2. In "Gore in the Caribees," how was Jose Miguel captured?

3. What does Mencken make synonymous with democracy in "A Blind Spot"?

4. What did Mencken feel about "American thinking"?

5. Which was NOT a feature of the ideal aristocracy, according to Mencken?

(see the answer key)

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