Chapter I: Economy Quiz — Walden

How long did Thoreau live at Walden Pond?

• One year and six months
• Two years and two months
• Three years
• Exactly two years

According to Thoreau, what are the four necessities of human life?

• Food, Water, Shelter, and Clothing
• Food, Shelter, Clothing, and Fuel
• Food, Shelter, Community, and Labor
• Food, Clothing, Education, and Shelter

How much did Thoreau's cabin cost to build?

• \.72
• \.12
• \.78
• \.99

From whom did Thoreau buy boards for his cabin?

• A local lumber mill
• His neighbor Seeley
• James Collins, an Irishman on the Fitchburg Railroad
• A farmer in Concord

What does Thoreau compare the endless toil of his neighbors to?

• The punishment of Sisyphus
• The twelve labors of Hercules
• The wanderings of Odysseus
• The sufferings of Prometheus

What is the primary crop Thoreau planted near his cabin?

• Corn
• Potatoes
• Beans
• Turnips

What does Thoreau say about philanthropy in Economy?

• It is the highest virtue a person can practice
• It is overrated and often motivated by the reformer's own private ailments
• It should be the primary focus of every citizen
• It is best practiced through organized religious institutions

On what date did Thoreau move into his cabin, and why is this significant?

• March 1st — the start of spring
• April 15th — tax day
• July 4th — Independence Day
• January 1st — the new year

Which of these events actually happened in this chapter?

What does "factitious" mean as used in the sentence: "are so occupied with the factitious cares and superfluously coarse labors of life"?

• Factual and well-documented
• Artificially created; not natural or genuine
• Extremely important and urgent
• Related to manufacturing

In the context of Walden, what does "pecuniary" mean?

• Peculiar or unusual
• Relating to punishment
• Relating to money; financial
• Relating to farming

What does "torpid" mean when Thoreau writes that "the life that had lain torpid began to stretch itself"?

• Violent and stormy
• Mentally or physically inactive; dormant
• Rapid and energetic
• Warm and comfortable