Literature and Empathy Quiz

What percentage of degrees granted from liberal arts colleges went to the humanities in 2011?

• One-third

• One-quarter

• One-half

• Two-thirds

According to the speaker, what has declined alongside the number of English majors?

• Scientific literacy

• Empathy

• Writing skills

• Public speaking

What major event influenced graduates' choice of majors in 2008?

• A new educational policy

• The Great Recession

• A significant technological advancement

• A cultural shift in the arts

In the study mentioned, what percentage less empathetic are today's students compared to the past?

• 20%

• 30%

• 40%

• 50%

Which character's actions are discussed to illustrate the practice of empathy through literature?

• Elizabeth Bennet

• Hamlet

• Jay Gatsby

• Holden Caulfield

What does the 'reading the mind in the eyes test' measure?

• Vocabulary skills

• Emotional intelligence

• Reading speed

• Comprehension level

Why did the students reading Jane Austen in the fMRI machine have increased blood flow in areas unrelated to language processing?

• They were bored

• They were physically moving

• They were emotionally engaged

• They were distracted

What did Dan Johnson's study investigate?

• The effects of reading on memory

• How reading affects racial bias

• The relationship between reading and writing skills

• The popularity of different literary genres

How did the children in the study using Harry Potter respond after reading about prejudice?

• They became more prejudiced

• They had improved attitudes towards immigrants

• They showed no change in attitude

• They preferred non-fiction

What does the speaker suggest about reading literature?

• It is only beneficial for English majors

• It can make us less lonely

• It has no real-world applications

• It is a waste of time