Grit Comprehension Questions
Chapter 1 -- Showing Up
1. In which school grade do West Point students start the selection process? What are three things students must have to get into West Point?
Students need high scores on the SAT or ACT, excellent grades, and a nomination from a congressman, senator, or vice president of the U.S. Students also have to be physically fit.
2. What percent of West Point students drop out of the program? When do many of them drop out?
20% of the cadets will drop out, and many of them leave in the first summer of their schooling during Beast Barracks.
3. What is Beast Barracks (aka Beast)?
It is a tough summer training that is supposed to prepare the cadets for the rigors of military life.
4. What about Beast was the author (Angela Duckworth) interested in? What did she want to know about it?
She wanted to know who completes Beast. In other words, she wanted to know what was it that prepared people for getting through it.
5. What is the Whole Candidate Score? Does the score predict how well a person will do in Beast?
It is a combination of a cadet’s SAT or ACT scores, high school rank, and physical fitness. It is supposed to predict how well a cadet will do at West Point and become a leader in the army.
6. According to Mike Matthews what quality was common among those who did not drop out of the Air Force’s basic training?
He said they all had a “never give up” attitude. They persevered.
7. What exactly is grit and why is grit so important?
It is a mix of passion and perseverance, and it seems to be essential for success in a variety of fields.
8. What is the Grit Scale and how is it related with the West Point cadets who have to endure Beast?
It is a questionnaire Duckworth developed to measure how much grit a person has. Scores on the scale predict whether a cadet will complete Beast better than anything else.
9. What other areas did Duckworth look to see if grit was important for success?
She looked at sales, graduation rates, advanced education obtainment, special forces training, and even the National Spelling Bee.
10. What does Duckworth mean when she says “Our potential is one thing. What we do with it is quite another” at the end of Chapter 1?
She means that we may be talented, but it doesn’t mean we will capitalize on it.