POL 209 FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Active Listening Skills
(1-2 Sentences) - Answers - Requires the listener to fully concentrate, understand,
respond and then remember what is being said. Listening skills may establish flow
rather than closed mindedness, negative emotions including stress, anger, and
frustration. It's an important technique for a class that pushes buttons with hot topics.
Worldview
(1-2 Sentences) - Answers - A comprehensive view or lens through which an individual
or society develops an understanding of the world. It is shaped by beliefs and values,
used to influence the areas of religion, war, politics, and government. it's important in
this class because of the different countries and worldviews we study in this class.
Pre-Modern Worldview
(1-2 Sentences) - Answers - Agricultural societies; tribalism. Knowledge and
understanding is communal and passed down by myths, folktales, stories, and
"enlightened" leaders/elders.
Modern Worldview
(1-2 Sentences) - Answers - Dominance of industrial sector and Individualism.
Knowledge or understanding becomes greatly influenced by scientific process;
individual responsibility gains importance as the individual has access to "truths". Logic,
rationalism and science is the focus of this view. (Ex: United States)
Post-Modern Worldview
(1-2 Sentences) - Answers - Dominance of the service sector. This view is a reaction to
Modernism. It balances Individualism and the communal experience. This view can be
understood through the values of communal truths (integration of science and reasoning
with communal experience), globalization, and conservation.
Identify 4 background characteristics that Russia and the U.S. have in common.
(2-4 Sentences) - Answers - 1. Both are frontier countries
2. Nature is important to both
3. Both are religious countries (Christian)
4. Brought down the Nazis
Compare the socio-political significance of mainstream Russian and mainstream
American Christian religiosity. Explicitly identify 2 ways in which mainstream Russian
and mainstream American Christian religiosity are different.
(2-3 Sentences) - Answers - Ways that mainstream Russia and mainstream American
Christian religiosity are different is that the United States has a "born again theology"
and close relationship with Jesus. They also focus on individual responsibility. In Russia,
, "Jesus is a suffering servant" with suffering at the base of human virtue and the focus is
on societal responsibility.
What do we mean by the "Russian Soul", and what is arguably the central component of
the "Russian Soul"?
(2 Sentences) - Answers - The "Russian Soul" is a national-cultural identity and
phenomenon that varies from what we associate with "the American Dream" and "the
European Dream." The central component of the "Russian Soul" is suffering. Virtue and
morality are drawn from suffering.
Why is suffering so important to the concept of the "Russian Soul"?
(2 Sentences) - Answers - Suffering is important to the "Russian Soul" because it is at
the base of human virtue. Virtue and morality are drawn from suffering. Russia is harsh.
Harsh land, nature and history.
How do the following reflect the "logic" of the "Russian Soul": Christ the Suffering
Servant, Alexander Nevsky, Spartacus, Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh, and
Danko? Select 4 of these 5 to discuss.
(4+ Sentences) - Answers - Christ the Suffering Servant: "Suffering Russia". Suffering is
at the base of human nature and important to Russians. Suffering equals strength.
Alexander Nevsky: He is the iconic protector of the Russian and Slavic People.
Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh: Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov opera in 1907. "Only the
pure of heart and soul can find Kitezh..."
Danko: Hero in the story by Maxim Gorky, "The Old Woman Izergil". He held up his
flaming heart to lead a lost group of people out of the forest during a violent storm to the
steppe. He allowed his heart to burn away for the love of his fellow men.
We read the short story by Maxim Gorky, "The Old Woman Izergil". 2 characters, Larra
and Danko, stood out in conveying values about human beings and the human
experience. Discuss the moral insights offered in the lives and fates of Larra and Danko.
(3+ Sentences) - Answers - Larra: was a "proud character" who killed the leader's
daughter for rejecting him. His punishment was external exile and loneliness and ended
up suffering for his wrong-doings (Russian Soul).
Danko: was a real leader who was distinguished by freedom of love and selflessness.
When Danko pulled out his heart from his chest, it represented his love for people, and
lit up their path. In this way, he gave the people his warmth and kindness (Modern
Values).
Explain why we watched in the class the PowerPoint-Music Montage, "Time Forward".
What insight did you draw from it?
Active Listening Skills
(1-2 Sentences) - Answers - Requires the listener to fully concentrate, understand,
respond and then remember what is being said. Listening skills may establish flow
rather than closed mindedness, negative emotions including stress, anger, and
frustration. It's an important technique for a class that pushes buttons with hot topics.
Worldview
(1-2 Sentences) - Answers - A comprehensive view or lens through which an individual
or society develops an understanding of the world. It is shaped by beliefs and values,
used to influence the areas of religion, war, politics, and government. it's important in
this class because of the different countries and worldviews we study in this class.
Pre-Modern Worldview
(1-2 Sentences) - Answers - Agricultural societies; tribalism. Knowledge and
understanding is communal and passed down by myths, folktales, stories, and
"enlightened" leaders/elders.
Modern Worldview
(1-2 Sentences) - Answers - Dominance of industrial sector and Individualism.
Knowledge or understanding becomes greatly influenced by scientific process;
individual responsibility gains importance as the individual has access to "truths". Logic,
rationalism and science is the focus of this view. (Ex: United States)
Post-Modern Worldview
(1-2 Sentences) - Answers - Dominance of the service sector. This view is a reaction to
Modernism. It balances Individualism and the communal experience. This view can be
understood through the values of communal truths (integration of science and reasoning
with communal experience), globalization, and conservation.
Identify 4 background characteristics that Russia and the U.S. have in common.
(2-4 Sentences) - Answers - 1. Both are frontier countries
2. Nature is important to both
3. Both are religious countries (Christian)
4. Brought down the Nazis
Compare the socio-political significance of mainstream Russian and mainstream
American Christian religiosity. Explicitly identify 2 ways in which mainstream Russian
and mainstream American Christian religiosity are different.
(2-3 Sentences) - Answers - Ways that mainstream Russia and mainstream American
Christian religiosity are different is that the United States has a "born again theology"
and close relationship with Jesus. They also focus on individual responsibility. In Russia,
, "Jesus is a suffering servant" with suffering at the base of human virtue and the focus is
on societal responsibility.
What do we mean by the "Russian Soul", and what is arguably the central component of
the "Russian Soul"?
(2 Sentences) - Answers - The "Russian Soul" is a national-cultural identity and
phenomenon that varies from what we associate with "the American Dream" and "the
European Dream." The central component of the "Russian Soul" is suffering. Virtue and
morality are drawn from suffering.
Why is suffering so important to the concept of the "Russian Soul"?
(2 Sentences) - Answers - Suffering is important to the "Russian Soul" because it is at
the base of human virtue. Virtue and morality are drawn from suffering. Russia is harsh.
Harsh land, nature and history.
How do the following reflect the "logic" of the "Russian Soul": Christ the Suffering
Servant, Alexander Nevsky, Spartacus, Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh, and
Danko? Select 4 of these 5 to discuss.
(4+ Sentences) - Answers - Christ the Suffering Servant: "Suffering Russia". Suffering is
at the base of human nature and important to Russians. Suffering equals strength.
Alexander Nevsky: He is the iconic protector of the Russian and Slavic People.
Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh: Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov opera in 1907. "Only the
pure of heart and soul can find Kitezh..."
Danko: Hero in the story by Maxim Gorky, "The Old Woman Izergil". He held up his
flaming heart to lead a lost group of people out of the forest during a violent storm to the
steppe. He allowed his heart to burn away for the love of his fellow men.
We read the short story by Maxim Gorky, "The Old Woman Izergil". 2 characters, Larra
and Danko, stood out in conveying values about human beings and the human
experience. Discuss the moral insights offered in the lives and fates of Larra and Danko.
(3+ Sentences) - Answers - Larra: was a "proud character" who killed the leader's
daughter for rejecting him. His punishment was external exile and loneliness and ended
up suffering for his wrong-doings (Russian Soul).
Danko: was a real leader who was distinguished by freedom of love and selflessness.
When Danko pulled out his heart from his chest, it represented his love for people, and
lit up their path. In this way, he gave the people his warmth and kindness (Modern
Values).
Explain why we watched in the class the PowerPoint-Music Montage, "Time Forward".
What insight did you draw from it?
