Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance

Reading Check and Short Answer Questions on key plot points are designed for guided reading assignments, in-class review, formative assessment, quizzes, and more.

Preface-Part 1, Chapters 1-5

Reading Check

1. What fraction of West Point cadets quit during their rigorous training?

2. What was the common factor among students who remained at West Point?

3. Do companies tend to hire the “natural” or the “striver?”

4. What term describes the practice of ranking professionals and firing the bottom 15%?

5. According to Duckworth, what do tests fail to determine?

6. What is Duckworth’s formula for achievement?

7. What does Irving overcome in order to become a successful novelist?

8. What are the two elements of grit?

9. What type of goal do people need to set in order to have a clear focus?

10. What percentage of perseverance is inherited?

11. What do researchers call the dramatic increase in IQ over the last century?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. What conclusion does the author make about higher SAT scores and its correlation to lower grit?

2. What distinction does Duckworth make between raw talent and hard work?

3. Why does Friedrich Nietzsche believe people prefer the mystical term of “talent?”

4. What four traits does Cox identify as separating the greatest historical figures from ordinary people?

Paired Resource

“Talent is Not Enough: The Importance of Persistence”

• This article makes the argument that talent alone does not determine success.
• How long does it take to develop mastery in a field according to Malcolm Gladwell? What is the role of endurance in achieving goals? What does the author believe is the root of passion? How does this article’s content relate to the book’s themes of The Nature of Grit and The Achievement of Grit?

 “Don’t Find Your Passion—Cultivate It, Psychologists Say”

• This article explains that passion isn’t found but fostered.
• According to the article, why might the adage “find your passion” be misleading for students? How might a fixed mindset prevent an individual from pursuing other interests? How do this article’s ideas connect to the book’s themes of The Teaching of Grit and The Nature of Grit?

Part 2, Chapters 6-9

Reading Check

1. What fraction of Americans are reported to not be engaged with their work?

2. What should people focus on pursuing when it comes to their careers?

3. What does the Japanese term “kaizen” refer to?

4. Approximately how many hours does it take to acquire elite-level skills?

5. What is it called when experts seek out weaknesses in performance and try to improve them?

6. How many hours of deliberate practice can a person have in one day?

7. What is a career called when it has reached the apex of purpose or the highest of the “bricklayers”?

8. How do people who have little growth tend to interpret the world?

9. How should students be praised?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. What activities does the author suggest one does in order to better understand their passions and interests?

2. How does the author define purpose?

3. What are the three phases of a person’s purpose development?

4. How does one’s perspective on problems correlate with their achievement?

Paired Resource

“Do You Have a Job, Career, or Calling?”

• This article draws distinctions between attitudes toward work.
• What is the difference between a job, career, and calling? How might someone who performs menial tasks make their career a calling? What is the role of personal beliefs and passions in pursuing a calling? How is this information related to the book’s themes of The Teaching of Grit and The Achievement of Grit?

“Fixing Poor Engagement Starts With Understanding Its Cause”

• This article provides tips on creating a culture of engagement in the workplace.
• What percentage of Americans feel disengaged from their workplace? What is the connection between engagement and efficacy? How should companies approach diagnosing problems in work engagement? What steps should be taken after diagnosis of disengagement? How might a company develop a plan to address engagement? How do these facts relate to the book’s themes of The Teaching of Grit and The Achievement of Grit?

Part 3, Chapter 10-Afterword

Reading Check

1. What are the two attributes of the “wise” parenting style?

2. What do students who have a high follow-through score often participate in?

3. What principle claims that good work habits create good outcomes and reinforce good behavior?

4. What did the Seahawks achieve after learning to develop their grit?

5. What is a set of beliefs of how things should be accomplished?

6. What is the culture of perseverance in Finland called?

7. What is JPMorgan Chace CEO Jamie Dimon’s name for grit?

Short Answer

Answer each question in at least 1 complete sentence. Incorporate details from the text to support your response.

1. What are the benefits of extracurricular activities for students?

2. Is it possible for someone to be too gritty?

3. What advice does Duckworth give about work-life balance?

Recommended Next Reads

Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Muhaly Csikszentmihalyi

• This nonfiction psychological book explores the correlation between happiness and complete immersion and focus on daily activities.
• Shared topics include finding happiness, self-awareness, and purpose.
• Shared themes include The Achievement of Grit and The Nature of Grit.
• Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience on SuperSummary

Solve for Happy by Mo Gawdat

• This nonfiction book, written by the chief business officer at Google X, describes a logical approach to finding happiness and contentment.
• Shared topics include finding joy, confronting adversity, and finding purpose.
• Shared themes include The Achievement of Grit and The Teaching of Grit.
• Solve for Happy on SuperSummary