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1) Integrate dx.
A) x - +C
B) -x + + C
C) x + + C
D) x - + C
E) x + 2
Answer: D
Diff: 1
2) Integrate dx.
A) x cos x - sin x + C
B) x sin x + cos x + C
C) -x cos x + sin x + C
D) x sin x - cos x + C
E) -x sin x + cos x + C
Answer: B
Diff: 1
3) Find dx.
A) 1 -
B) -1
C) - 1
D)
E) -1 -
Answer: A
Diff: 3
4) Integrate dx.
A) ln x + +C
B) ln x - +C
C) ln x + x+C
D) ln x - x+C
E) ln x - +C
Answer: B
Diff: 1
5) Integrate dx.
A) +
B) -
C) -
D) +
E)
Answer: A
Diff: 2
A) ln(5x) - +C
B) ln(5x) + +C
C) ln(5x) + +C
D) ln(5x) - +C
E) ln(5x) - +C
Answer: A
Diff: 2
Copyright © 2018 Pearson Canada Inc. 6-2
Calculus, 9e
Chapter 6: Techniques of Integration
7) Evaluate .
A) ( )+C
B) ( )+ +C
C) ( )- +C
D) ( ) + ln(1 - ) + C
E) ( ) + 2x ( )+C
Answer: B
Diff: 3
8) Integrate .
A) (2 - 2x - 1) + C
B) (2 + 2x - 1) + C
C) (2 - 2x + 1) + C
D) (2 + 2x + 1) + C
E) (2 - 2x + 1) + C
Answer: C
Diff: 2
9) Integrate dx.
A) - - + +C
B) - - +C
C) - + - +C
D) - - - +C
E) + - +C
Answer: D
Diff: 2
A) +
B) -
C) -
D) +
E) +
Answer: B
Diff: 2
11) Integrate
A) x x- x+ sin 2x + C
B) x x+ x+ sin 2x + C
C) x x- x- sin 2x + C
D) x x+ x- sin 2x + C
E) x x- x+ cos 2x + C
Answer: A
Diff: 2
12) Evaluate .
A) x (x) - ln(1 + )+C
B) +C
C) x (x) - ln(1 + )+C
D) arc +C
E) ln +C
Answer: A
Diff: 2
Answer: A
Diff: 3
A) 6 - 2e
B) 4e - 6
C) e + 3
D) 4e - 3
E) 2e - 1
Answer: A
Diff: 3
A) -
B) +
C) +
D) -
E)
Answer: B
Diff: 2
A) 6 - 2e
B) -
C) -
D) +
E) 2 + 6
Answer: C
Diff: 2
17) Integrate
A) ln x - +C
B) ln x + +C
C) ln x - +C
D) ln x + +C
E) ln x - +C
Answer: A
Diff: 2
A) 8 + 4
B) 4
C) 8 -5
D) -4
E) 3
Answer: B
Diff: 2
A) = - , = +C
B) = + , = +C
C) = - n , = +C
D) = + n , = +C
E) = + , = +C
Answer: A
Diff: 3
21) Let In = dx. Find a reduction formula for In in terms of In-2 valid for n ≥ 3
A) = + , = + ln(1 + )
B) = - , = - ln(1 + )
C) = + , = + ln(1 + )
D) = + , = - ln(1 + )
E) = + , = + ln(1 + )
Answer: A
Diff: 3
A) + 3x - 9ln +C
B) + 3x + 9ln +C
C) - 3x + 9ln +C
D) + 3x + 9ln +C
E) + 3x + 3ln +C
Answer: B
Diff: 1
A) 4 ln - ln +C
B) 4 ln + ln +C
C) 4 ln + ln +C
D) 4 ln - ln +C
E) 2 ln - ln +C
Answer: D
Diff: 1
A) 2x + ln +C
B) 2x - ln +C
C) x - ln +C
D) x + ln +C
E) x - ln +C
Answer: C
Diff: 1
A) + - ln + ln +C
B) + + ln - ln +C
C) + - ln - ln +C
D) + + ln + ln +C
E) + - ln + ln +C
Answer: A
Diff: 2
5) Evaluate dx.
A) ln( - 1) +
B) ln( + 1) +
C) ln( - 1) -
D) ln( + 1) -
E) ln( )-
Answer: D
Diff: 2
A) ln - ln +C
B) ln - ln +C
C) ln - ln +C
D) 7 ln - 3 ln +C
E) 7 ln - 3 ln +C
Answer: A
Diff: 2
A) - + 2x - 2 ln +C
B) - + 2x + 2 ln +C
C) + + 2x - 2 ln +C
D) + + 2x + 2 ln +C
E) + + 2x + 2 ln +C
Answer: D
Diff: 2
A) +
B) -
C) - +
D) - -
E) +
Answer: A
Diff: 2
A) -x- +3 (x) + C
B) -x+ +3 (x) + C
C) -x+ -3 (x) + C
D) +x+ +3 (x) + C
E) -x- -3 (x) + C
Answer: B
Diff: 2
A) ln - (x + 1) + (x - 1) + C
B) ln + (x - 1) - (x - 1) + C
C) ln + (x + 1) + (x - 1) + C
D) ln + (x + 1) + (x - 1) + C
E) ln - (x + 1) - (x - 1) + C
Answer: D
Diff: 3
11)
A) (x) + ln( + 1) - x + C
B) ( + 1) (x) - x + C
C) +C
D) +C
E) (x) - ln( + 1) + x + C
Answer: B
Diff: 3
A) ln + ln + +C
B) ln + ln + +C
C) ln + +C
D) ln + ln + +C
E) ln + ln -3ln +C
Answer: A
Diff: 3
A) + (2x) + C
B) - (2x) + C
C) - (2x) + C
D) + (2x) + C
E) + (2x) + C
Answer: D
Diff: 3
A) 3x - ln( + 4) +12 +C
B) - + +C
C) +C
D) 3x - ln( + 4) + C
E) - + +C
Answer: D
Diff: 2
15) The correct form of the partial fraction decomposition for the function is
given by
A) +
B) + +
C) +
D) +
E) + +
Answer: E
Diff: 2
A) ln + + C
B) ln - + C
C) ln - + C
D) ln + + C
E) ln + + C
Answer: C
Diff: 3
17) Evaluate .
A) ln - - +C
B) - ln - + +C
C) - ln - - +C
D) ln - + +C
E) ln - - +C
Answer: A
Diff: 3
18) Evaluate .
A) ln - ln + +C
B) - ln + ln + +C
C) - ln - ln + +C
D) ln + ln + +C
E) ln + ln + +C
Answer: A
Diff: 3
1) Evaluate dx.
A) 144
B) 121
C) 9π
D) 124
E) -144
Answer: A
Diff: 1
2) Evaluate dx.
A) - + ln
B) + ln
C) - + ln
D) + ln
E) - - ln
Answer: C
Diff: 1
3) Evaluate dx.
A) +C
B) +C
C) +C
D) +C
E) +C
Answer: D
Diff: 2
4) Evaluate dx.
A) + a ln +C
B) - a ln +C
C) - a ln +C
D) + a ln +C
E) - ln +C
Answer: C
Diff: 2
5) Evaluate dx.
A) 16π
B) 8π
C)
D) 16π - 8
E) 12π
Answer: A
Diff: 2
6) Evaluate dt
C) ( + 2) + C
D) +C
E) 2 +C
Answer: C
Diff: 2
7) Evaluate dx.
A) -2x +C
B) +C
C) +C
D) +C
E) - +C
Answer: D
Diff: 2
8) Evaluate
A) +C
B) - +C
C) +C
D) 3 +C
E) 3 +C
Answer: A
Diff: 2
9) Evaluate dx.
A) - + +C
B) - + +C
C) - +C
D) - - +C
E) + +C
Answer: A
Diff: 3
10) Evaluate
A) +C
B) +C
C) +C
D) +C
E) +C
Answer: A
Diff: 2
11) Let J = dx. The substitution x = tan(θ) transforms the integral J into:
A)
B) 3
C) 3
D)
E) 3
Answer: B
Diff: 1
Simplifying we get = ln + C.
Diff: 3
A) -
B) -
C) -
D) -
E) +
Answer: C
Diff: 3
1) What technique would you use to evaluate the integral I = Instead, try to
Diff: 2
2) What technique would you use to evaluate the integral I = Instead, try to
Diff: 2
3) Let F(x) = Use Maple or another computer algebra program to compute F(x)
Answer: B
Diff: 1
4) Let G(x) = dt. Use Maple or another computer algebra system to calculate
Answer: A
Diff: 1
A)
B) e
C) ln 3
D)
E) diverges to ∞
Answer: A
Diff: 1
A) π/2
B) π
C) 1/2
D) 1
E) divergent
Answer: A
Diff: 1
A) 2
B) 1
C) π
D) e
E) diverges to ∞
Answer: A
Diff: 1
A) converges to 1 -
B) diverges to ∞
C) converged to -1
D) diverges to -∞
E) converges to
Answer: E
Diff: 2
5) Evaluate, if convergent, .
A) π
B) 2π
C)
D)
E) divergent
Answer: A
Diff: 2
A)
B)
C) -
D) 0
E) divergent
Answer: B
Diff: 2
A) 3
B)
C)
D)
E) diverges to ∞
Answer: C
Diff: 1
A) 2
B)
C) 3
D) 4
E) diverges to ∞
Answer: E
Diff: 1
9) Evaluate
A) -
B) -
C)
D) -
E) diverges to -∞
Answer: D
Diff: 2
A) diverges to ∞
B) converges to - sin(3)
C) converges to 3 - sin(3)
D) diverges to -∞
E) converges to sin(3) - 3cos(3)
Answer: C
Diff: 3
A) 2π
B) π
C) 1
D) 0
E) divergent
Answer: E
Diff: 2
A) π
B) 1
C) 0
D)
E) diverges to ∞
Answer: A
Diff: 2
B) dx
C) dx
D) dx
E) dx
Answer: C
Diff: 2
Answer: FALSE
Diff: 1
A) -2
B) -1
C) 2
D) 1
E) diverges to ∞
Answer: C
Diff: 2
A)
B) -
C)
D) diverges to ∞
E) diverges to -∞
Answer: B
Diff: 2
A) 2
B) 2π
C) 1
D) π
E) diverges to ∞
Answer: D
Diff: 2
18) Find the area under the curve y = and above the x-axis between x = -1 and x = 1.
A) 4 square units
B) 2 square units
C) 2 square units
D) 4 square units
E) diverges to ∞
Answer: B
Diff: 2
19) Find the area between the curves y = and y = to the right of x = 0 if the area is
finite.
A) 3 square units
B) 3 square units
C) 2 square units
D) 2 square units
E) diverges to ∞
Answer: C
Diff: 3
A) 2
B) 2π
C) 5π
D) 5
E) diverges to ∞
Answer: E
Diff: 3
21) Find, if finite, the area of the region lying between the graph of the function (x) and the
line to the right of x = 0.
A) square units
B) π square units
C) π + 1 square units
D) 2π square units
E) diverges to ∞
Answer: E
Diff: 3
A)
B)
C)
D)
E) diverges to ∞
Answer: B
Diff: 2
A)
B) 1
C) e
D)
E) diverges to ∞
Answer: B
Diff: 2
24) For what values of the constant k does the improper integral converge?
Diff: 3
25) For what values of the constant k does the improper integral converge?
A) < k <
B) < k <
C) < k <
D) k = only
E) < k < ∞
Answer: A
Diff: 3
Answer: FALSE
Diff: 2
Answer: FALSE
Diff: 2
Answer: FALSE
Diff: 2
Answer: TRUE
Diff: 2
1) Evaluate the Trapezoid and Midpoint Rule approximations and for dx.
2) Evaluate the Trapezoid and Midpoint Rule approximations and for dx. Round
3) Evaluate the Trapezoid Rule approximation for dx. Round your answer to 4
decimal places.
A) 0.9438
B) 0.9443
C) 0.9432
D) 0.9450
E) 0.9445
Answer: E
Diff: 2
4) Evaluate the Midpoint Rule approximation for dx. Round your answer to 4
decimal places.
A) 0.8475
B) 0.9469
C) 0.9480
D) 0.9459
E) 0.9445
Answer: B
Diff: 2
5) Find the Trapezoid Rule approximation for I = based on dividing [0, 1] into 5
equal subintervals. Quote your answer to 4 decimal places. Calculate the exact value of I and so
determine the error in the approximation.
A) ≈ 0.7837, I = π/4 ≈ 0.7854, Error ≈ 0.0017
B) ≈ 0.7827, I = π/4 ≈ 0.7854, Error ≈ 0.0027
C) ≈ 0.7837, I = π/4 ≈ 0.7854, Error ≈ -0.0017
D) ≈ 0.7820, I = π/4 ≈ 0.7854, Error ≈ -0.0034
E) ≈ 0.7862, I = π/4 ≈ 0.7854, Error ≈ - 0.0008
Answer: A
Diff: 2
6) Find the Midpoint Rule approximation for I = based on dividing [0, 1] into 5
equal subintervals. Quote your answer to 4 decimal places. Calculate the exact value of I and so
determine the error in the approximation.
A) M5 ≈ 0.7862, I = π/4 ≈ 0.7854, Error ≈ - 0.0008
B) M5 ≈ 0.7862, I = π/4 ≈ 0.7854, Error ≈ 0.0008
C) M5 ≈ 0.7872, I = π/4 ≈ 0.7854, Error ≈ - 0.0018
D) M5 ≈ 0.7872, I = π/4 ≈ 0.7854, Error ≈ 0.0008
E) M5 ≈ 0.7837, I = π/4 ≈ 0.7854, Error ≈ 0.0017
Answer: A
Diff: 2
7) True or False: If g(x) is a polynomial of degree two, then the error involved in approximating
the integral using the Trapezoid Rule is zero.
Answer: FALSE
Diff: 1
error not exceeding 0.0003. Find the smallest number of sub intervals n.
A) 17
B) 34
C) 49
D) 25
E) 27
Answer: A
Diff: 1
9) The following table gives values of an unknown function f(x) determined by experimental
measurement. Find the best Trapezoid Rule approximation you can for dx based on the
x f(x)
2.00 1.052
2.25 1.042
2.50 1.034
2.75 1.026
3.00 1.020
3.25 1.016
3.50 1.012
3.75 1.010
4.00 1.008
A) T8 = 2.0475
B) T8 = 2.0470
C) T8 = 2.0465
D) T8 = 2.0460
E) T8 = 2.0480
Answer: A
Diff: 1
10) The following table gives values of an unknown function f(x) determined by experimental
measurement. Find the best Midpoint Rule approximation you can for dx based on the
x f(x)
2.00 1.052
2.25 1.042
2.50 1.034
2.75 1.026
3.00 1.020
3.25 1.016
3.50 1.012
3.75 1.010
4.00 1.008
A) M4 = 2.0470
B) M4 = 2.0465
C) M4 = 2.0475
D) M4 = 2.0460
E) M4 = 2.0480
Answer: A
Diff: 1
11) Given that (t) < 0 on the interval [a, b], what can be said about the relationship between
the values of the integral I = dx, the Trapezoid Rule approximation for I, and the
12) Suppose that 0 ≤ (x) ≤ 3 on the interval [0, 2] and that a Trapezoid Rule approximation
Tn for based on n equal subintervals of [0, 2] has been calculated. Which is the
B)
C)
D)
E)
Answer: A
Diff: 3
13) Find an upper bound for the size of the error if the Trapezoidal Rule using 4 equal
subintervals is used to approximate the integral dx. Is the error positive or negative?
Answer: A
Diff: 2
14) Let f(x) be a function such that - 9 ≤ (x) ≤ 3, for x∈[2, 4] and let J = dx. Find the
maximum absolute error involved in approximating the integral J using the Trapezoid Rule T10.
A) 0
B) 0.04
C) 0.03
D) 0.02
E) 0.06
Answer: E
Diff: 2
15) Find the maximum value of on [0, 1], where f(x) = , and use it to obtain an
upper bound for the absolute value of the error involved if the Trapezoid Rule approximation
based on n equal subintervals is used to approximate I = dx. How large should n be
Answer: A
Diff: 2
answers to 5 decimal places. What are the actual errors in these approximations?
Answer: S4 ≈ 2.00456, ≈ 2.00027, I - S4 ≈ -0.00456, I - S8 ≈ -0.00027
Diff: 1
answers to 5 decimal places. What are the actual errors in these approximations?
A) S4 ≈ 2.00466, S8 ≈ 2.00029, I - S4 ≈ -0.00466, I - S8 ≈ -0.00029
B) S4 ≈ 2.00456, S8 ≈ 2.00027, I - S4 ≈ -0.00456, I - S8 ≈ -0.00027
C) S4 ≈ 2.00446, S8 ≈ 2.00024, I - S4 ≈ -0.00446, I - S8 ≈ -0.00024
D) S4 ≈ 2.00436, S8 ≈ 2.00020, I - S4 ≈ -0.00436, I - S8 ≈ -0.00020
E) S4 ≈ 2.00476, S8 ≈ 2.00031, I - S4 ≈ -0.00476, I - S8 ≈ -0.00031
Answer: B
Diff: 1
3) Use Simpson's Rule with 4 subintervals to approximate I = dx. Round your answer
to 4 decimal places.
A) S4 = 0.3467
B) S4 = 0.2874
C) S4 = 0.4009
D) S4 = 0.3128
E) S4 = 0.3465
Answer: A
Diff: 1
4) Use Simpson's Rule with 8 subintervals to approximate I = dx. Round your answer to
6 decimal places.
A) S8 = 0.632121
B) S8 = 0.632120
C) S8 = 0.635423
D) S8 = 0.635427
E) S8 = 0.634215
Answer: A
Diff: 2
5) The following table gives values of an unknown function f(x) determined by experimental
measurement. Find the best Simpson's Rule approximation you can for dx based on the
x f(x)
2.00 1.052
2.25 1.042
2.50 1.034
2.75 1.026
3.00 1.020
3.25 1.016
3.50 1.012
3.75 1.010
4.00 1.008
A) S8 ≈ 2.0468
B) S8 ≈ 2.0473
C) S8 ≈ 2.0477
D) S8 ≈ 2.0480
E) S8 ≈ 2.0465
Answer: B
Diff: 1
6) Apply Simpson's Rule with n = 2 to approximate I = dx. What is the actual error in this
approximation? What does the Simpson's Rule error estimate give as an upper bound for the size
of the error?
A) S2 = , I - = 0, estimate gives ≤
B) S2 = , I- =- , estimate gives ≤
C) S2 = , I- = , estimate gives ≤
D) S2 = , I- =- , estimate gives ≤
E) S2 = , I- =- , estimate gives ≤
Answer: B
Diff: 2
7) Suppose that the six subintervals Simpson's Rule and the three subintervals Midpoint Rule
approximations for the integral dx are respectively given by S6 = 42 and M3 =36.
Diff: 2
8) The values of a continuous function f on the closed interval [2, 20] are provided in the table
below:
x 2 5 8 11 14 17 20
f(x) 9 5 -4 2 4 3 1
Use the table to find the Simpson's Rule approximation S6 for dx.
Answer: 50
Diff: 1
9) Let f(x) = and let I = dx. Given that ≤ 12 for 0 ≤ x ≤ 1, what is the
smallest value of n for which the Simpson's Rule approximation I ≈ S2n will have error less
than 0.0005 in absolute value? Hence, what is the value of I rounded to 3 decimal places?
A) n = 2, I ≈ S4 ≈ 0.747
B) n = 1, I ≈ S2 ≈ 0.747
C) n = 4, I ≈ S8 ≈ 0.747
D) n = 3, I ≈ S6 ≈ 0.747
E) n = 3, I ≈ S8 ≈ 0.747
Answer: A
Diff: 2
10) Let P(x) be a polynomial of degree 3, and suppose P(-2) = 1, P(0) = 3, and P(2) = 2.
Find the exact value of dx.
A) 10
B) 9
C) 11
D) 12
E) 8
Answer: A
Diff: 2
11) Suppose that ≤ 60 on the interval [0, 2] and that a Simpson's Rule approximation
S2n for dx based on 2n equal subintervals of [0, 2] has been calculated. What is
B)
C)
D)
E)
Answer: A
Diff: 3
12) Suppose Trapezoid Rule and Midpoint Rule approximations T8 = 2.470 and M8 = 2.500
are known for the same integral I. Find the Simpson's Rule approximation S16 for I.
A) S16 = 2.490
B) S16 = 2.480
C) S16 = 2.485
D) S16 = 2.495
E) S16 = 2.475
Answer: A
Diff: 2
13) Determine the exact error involved in approximating the integral dx using
14) True or False: If g(x) = A + 3B + 2Cx + D, where A, B, C, and D are constant real
numbers, and if is the Simpson's Rule approximation for the integral dx, then =
16B + 4D.
Answer: TRUE
Diff: 1
by, say, the Trapezoid Rule or Simpson's Rule. Use a suitable change of variable to transform I
into a proper integral these techniques can be applied to.
Answer: Let x = u3. The interval is then transformed to I = du.
Diff: 1
Diff: 1
3) Let (x) be the Maclaurin polynomial of degree n for the function , and let
4) Calculate the Trapezoid Rule approximations T2, T4, and T8 for I = dx and use
them to calculate the Simpson's Rule approximations S2, S4, and S8 and the Romberg
approximations R1, R2, and R3 for I. Do all calculations to 9 decimal places. Then quote an
approximate value for I to whatever precision you feel is justified by your calculations.
Answer:
T2 ≈ 0.731370252, T4 ≈ 0.742984098, T8 ≈ 0.745865615;
S2 ≈ 0.747180429, S4 ≈ 0.746855380, S8 ≈ 0.746826121;
R1 ≈ 0.747180429, R2 ≈ 0.746833710, R3 ≈ 0.746824019;
I ≈ 0.746824133
Diff: 2
Language: English
BY
LEONARD G. NATTKEMPER
Polytechnic High School, Long Beach, Cal.
Formerly Professor of Public Speaking,
University of Southern California
AND
Copyright, 1919,
By The Radiant Life Press
J. F. TAPLEY CO.
NEW YORK
INTRODUCTION
Speech is one of God’s greatest gifts to man, yet, comparatively
speaking, how few there are whose speech is pleasing to hear, clear
and understandable, impressive and stimulative to action.
From the cradle to the grave every person, perforce, uses speech,
just as he eats, breathes, drinks, sleeps. It is one of the important,
ever exercised functions of life. Upon it all our social, business and
professional intercourse is based. Without it, life as we know it,
would be impossible. With it, developed to its natural, normal, proper,
and readily attainable efficiency, there are few limits to what man
may aspire to attain.
Recognizing to the full the truth of the aphorism that “the things we
enjoy doing are the things we do best,” it is the purpose of this book
so to present its subject as to create in its readers a firm resolve to
so thoroughly enjoy good reading that they will do it well.
The aim is twofold: first, to stimulate a natural desire on the part of
the student for the proper use of voice and body in the oral
interpretation of literature; and second, to present a natural and
practical scheme for the attainment of this end.
After a number of years of experience and observation the authors
have come to believe that when even the most diffident pupil has
once had aroused in him a real enjoyment in the acts of speaking
and reading aloud, he is destined to become not only an intelligent,
but an intelligible reader.
It is no longer necessary to argue for the recognition of vocal
expression as a worthy and definite part of the curriculum of High
School and College. Training in the spoken word is to-day, as never
before, looked upon as a prerequisite to professional and business
success. Henry Ward Beecher, speaking of the rightful place of
speech culture, says:
It is the first and last object of education “to teach people how to
think.” When we consider the vast wealth of great thoughts felt and
expressed by great men of all times and recorded for us in books,
should we not give serious reflection upon what we read and how we
read?
This book has to do primarily with how rightly to speak thoughts
and feelings hidden in great literature—yet it is strictly in keeping
with this purpose to give some attention to silent reading as
distinguished from oral reading. For how can one hope to become an
intelligible reader who is not first an intelligent one? This does not
argue that an intelligent reader is likewise intelligible, for the mere
comprehension of the author’s thought and mood does not in itself
insure a proper or adequate oral rendition of the same. In this sense
we think of the former act as a necessity, and of the latter as an
accomplishment.
Yet in this twentieth century we can hardly make the above
limitations, for he who is to become most useful to himself and to
others, must not only be able to understand what he reads, but must,
at the same time, be able effectively to communicate it to others. The
latter accomplishment, of course, necessitates systematic drill and
practice, and the greater portion of this book is devoted to a series of
lessons for carrying on such a course of instruction. In this
immediate chapter, however, we are concerned more particularly
with reading in general.
One of the first steps toward fitting oneself to become an
impressive reader and speaker is to acquire a real love for the best
literature. The only way to do this is by making the acquaintance of
great authors, and the best way to come into companionship with
noble writers is conscientiously to study their works. Because, at first
glance, an author may seem obscure, too many are fain to put the
book aside, or substitute for it one that does not require any effort to
enjoy. But, after all, is it not the books over which we struggle most
that yield us the most joy and the most good? When once we form
the friendship of great books and catch their vision, we cannot help
but pattern our lives, in a very large measure, in accordance with
those fundamental and lasting principles of right living and right
thinking which characterize the writings of all great men and women.
Their ideals become our ideals.
It seems, therefore, that if we hope to become agreeable speakers
or conversationalists we must, at the outset, realize it as imperative
that we, make ourselves familiar with the writings, in verse and
prose, of noble minds. It is by this close association with great
people, who have not only understood and felt the deeper meanings
of life, but who have put their experiences and knowledge into
permanent literature, that we may have our smaller souls kindled to
glow brighter and longer. It is by giving an attentive ear to the voices
that call to us from our bookshelves that our finer sensibilities are
quickened to fuller appreciation of nature, of art, and of the joy of
living.
We must realize that training in the development of oral
expression is primarily a cultural course, but, at the same time, a
practical one. Many people would invert the order of this statement,
but all are agreed that correct vocal expression aids immeasurably in
the development of taste and refinement, and, at the same time,
affords, in many ways, practical assistance in daily living.
Pure water is more likely to be drawn from a deep well than from a
shallow pool. So, also, he who possesses depth of feeling and
appreciation of noble thoughts and pure emotions is more likely to
give adequate and satisfactory oral expression to them than he
whose feeling is shallow and indifferent. Experience teaches that
nothing gives greater aid to a spontaneous, irresistible flow of
thought, revealing, through voice and body, the finer conceptions of
the human soul, than a constant familiarity with the deep wells of the
best literature.
By listening eagerly to the best words great men of all times have
said to the world, we make our own natures responsive. Then, in
greater or lesser measure, as readers or speakers, we translate or
interpret these words for the enjoyment or uplift of others.
How can the man, the woman, of limited time and means, proceed
so as to find these treasures of literature?
Let us here set down, briefly and clearly, what seems to us the
most enjoyable and natural method to use. In the first place, ask
yourself if you are willing to be a hard worker, self-sacrificing and
humble. Unless you are, you will find that great spirits are slow to
share with you their richest treasures. You must first make yourself
worthy before you can expect to enter into their sanctum. In the
words of Ruskin:
It must be Intelligible
It must be Sympathetic
It must be Melodious
It must be Forceful
In seeking to accomplish these four aims, the pupil will not only
increase his culture but his practical mental power as well.
The first step has to do with whatever makes understandable what
he has to say. But before he can be intelligible in address, he must
be an intelligent reader. He must train himself to master the real
meaning of words. This means taking in—comprehending—and
translating the thought of others. This is an important part in
accomplishing the first step. The mind must be trained quickly and
accurately to comprehend the printed page.