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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How does Valmont contrive to grope the woman he wants to seduce?
(a) By carrying her across a ditch.
(b) By pretending to stumble into her.
(c) By grabbing her from behind.
(d) By helping her mount a horse.

2. In letter 5, how does Merteuil react to Valmont's object of desire?
(a) She encourages his plan of seduction.
(b) She expresses doubts as to his capability.
(c) She is incredulous and mocking.
(d) She places absolute faith in Valmont.

3. In letter 15, what does Valmont call Merteuil about her attentions to her current lover?
(a) He calls her an attention seeker.
(b) He calls her gentle and caring.
(c) He calls her selfish and callous.
(d) He calls her a slave to another's pleasure.

4. What does Laclos favor over the well-trained mind?
(a) A sense of humor.
(b) A stout constitution.
(c) A high social station.
(d) A feeling heart.

5. What does the author of the Editor's Preface claim he has done?
(a) Translated these letters from another language into French.
(b) Collected and organized real letters, and provided occasional notes.
(c) Written the story of his own group of friends into the form of letters.
(d) Written all the letters himself, from the perspective of fictional characters.

Short Answer Questions

1. What event does Valmont tell Madame de Tourvel secured his love for her?

2. How does Valmont give Cécile her letter from Danceny?

3. What does "libertine" generally refer to in 18th-century France?

4. Who wrote the Publisher's Foreword to _Les Liasons Dangerueses_?

5. What does Danceny refuse to do, despite Madame de Volanges' request?

Short Essay Questions

1. What causes Cécile to become worried and sad about her upcoming marriage?

2. What are the general contents of Valmont's love letters to Madame de Tourvel?

3. What does Madame de Volanges say about Valmont to warn Madame de Tourvel against becoming too friendly with him?

4. What defines or designates the "libertine" literary tradition?

5. What does Merteuil suggest, in different forms, to Cécile and Valmont?

6. What does the Editor state in the Editor's Preface?

7. How does Cécile describe her feelings about Danceny to Sophie in letter 55?

8. How does Valmont describe Madame de Tourvel?

9. What are Merteuil and Valmont's plans for Danceny and Cécile at the beginning of Part II?

10. How does the Publisher's Foreword introduce the novel?

(see the answer keys)

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