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"Paradox and Dream" Review
Refer to "Paradox and Dream" while answering the following questions.
1) In the first paragraph, of Steinbeck's "Paradox and Dream," which example illustrates the point that Steinbeck made to show that Americans are "restless and dissatisfied"?
a. Americans dream of buying a home, but once they get it, they're dissatisfied and want something bigger.
b.Americans eat too much, drink too much, and indulge their senses too much.
c. All of these are examples of how Americans are "restless and dissatisfied."
d. If an American is a vegetarian, he would make everyone stop eating meat.
Answer: All of these are examples of how Americans are "restless and dissatisfied."
2) Read the paradox below from paragraph two in Steinbeck's "Paradox and Dream."
"We are able to believe that our government is weak, stupid, overbearing, dishonest, and inefficient, and at the same time we are deeply convinced that it is the best government in the world, and we would like to impose it upon everyone else."
How is this sentence an example of paradox?
a. The sentence states that the American people believe the government is both the worst and the best in the world.
b. The sentence argues that the government tries to do what is right.
c. The sentence claims that the government purposefully does the wrong thing.
d. The sentence does not include a paradox.
Answer: The sentence states that the American people believe the government is both the worst and the best in the world.
3) Read the paradox below from paragraph three in Steinbeck's "Paradox and Dream."
"We are self-reliant and at the same time completely dependent. We are aggressive, and defenseless."
How can Americans be self-reliant and completely dependent at the same time?
a. Americans aren't dependent.
b. Americans aren't independent.
c. You can't be both independent and dependent at the same time.
d. For example, you may be quite competent in driving a car; however, if the car breaks down, you must depend on a mechanic to fix it.
Answer: For example, you may be quite competent in driving a car; however, if the car breaks down, you must depend on a mechanic to fix it.
4) Which example does Steinbeck use to show that Americans "function by paradox?"
a. "Our lives as we live them would not function without electricity, but it is a rare man or woman who, when the power goes off, knows how to look for a burned-out fuse and replace it."
b. "By natural endowment, we are great rifle shots and great hunters--but when hunting season opens there is a slaughter of farm animals and humans by men and women who couldn't hit a real target if they could see it."
c. "We spend our lives in automobiles, yet most of us--a great many of us at least-do not know enough about a car to look in the gas tank when the engine fails."
d. All of these are examples of paradoxes.
Answer: All of these are examples of paradoxes.