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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. What was Chesterton's early progression through religious mindsets?
(a) Agnostic by ten, Christian by thirteen.
(b) Pagan by twelve, agnostic by sixteen.
(c) Pantheist by twelve, Christian by fifteen.
(d) Pagan by six, pantheist by eight.

2. In determining his criteria for progress, what does Chesterton discover?
(a) Christianity arrived there first.
(b) Buddhism shed some light on his questions.
(c) Christianity could lead him to the answers.
(d) Christianity could not answer any of his questions.

3. What does Chesterton define as the problem with pessimists?
(a) They are cosmic anti-patriots.
(b) They are opposed to optimists.
(c) They impede progress.
(d) They are opposed to religious beliefs in any form.

4. How does Chesterton want joy and anger to interact?
(a) In opposition, sharpening each other into greater fierceness.
(b) In opposition, never coming close.
(c) Coming close enough to affect each other.
(d) Coming together to soften each other.

5. How does Chesterton's example of the blue world explain modernity's attitude toward progress?
(a) Man must not be sidetracked onto changing every aspect of his world.
(b) Man's desire for a blue world is only illusory.
(c) If a man always works toward a blue world, he will eventually succeed.
(d) Man can begin with the desire for a blue world but should not end there.

Short Answer Questions

1. In Chesterton's explanation, how do religions of the world differ?

2. After studying the attacks on Christianity, what did Chesterton conclude?

3. Why does Christianity mark the graves of the martyr and the suicide?

4. According to Chesterton, most things are allied with oppression. What is the one area where he sees a line past which oppression has no effect?

5. What is the thesis of Mrs. Besant's book?

Short Essay Questions

1. Near the beginning of Chapter VII, The Eternal Revolution, Chesterton makes an argument concerning superiority. What is this argument? Does he satisfy the question fully?

2. The Church holds to some strict doctrines regarding man and his actions. Why is she so strict? Is it possible for her to swerve in her beliefs?

3. Why, according to Chesterton, do modern thinkers find it advantageous to modernity to change the vision of heaven constantly? What effect does this have on man's mind?

4. Why does Chesterton detest the religion of the Inner Light, of looking within oneself for God? What relation does this abhorrence have to Christianity?

5. What nearly persuaded Chesterton to become a Christian? Why was this thought frightening?

6. What does Chesterton say is the most sensible ideal for nature? Is this a valid ideal? Why or why not?

7. In Chapter VI, The Paradoxes of Christianity, what does Chesterton name the most common type of trouble in the world? How does Christianity answer this trouble?

8. What argument does Chesterton make for keeping joy and anger separate? What is the danger in letting them meld together to produce some form of contentment?

9. Why are liberals not free thinkers? What argument is made in Chapter VIII, The Romance of Orthodoxy, about confusion within language?

10. What is the common view of Christianity and Buddhism, according to Chesterton? How are they similar and dissimilar? What is Chesterton's opinion of their differences?

(see the answer keys)

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