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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How does Father Schwartz know Rudolph is worried when he comes to see him at the start of the story?
(a) His mouth is trembling.
(b) He is wringing his hands.
(c) He is pacing.
(d) He is sweating and his breathing is shallow.

2. What concerns Rudolph at the start of Chapter 2?
(a) He worries his confession will anger the priest.
(b) He worries Father Schwartz will not be in the confessional.
(c) He worries someone will be able to hear his confession.
(d) He worries his father will listen to his confession.

3. How does Father Schwartz know Rudolph's father?
(a) He was his former housekeeper.
(b) He is a parishioner.
(c) He is a clergyman.
(d) They went to school together.

4. What does Father Schwartz ask Rudolph if he has done when he first visits?
(a) He asks if he has committed theft.
(b) He asks if he has killed someone.
(c) He asks if he has lied.
(d) He asks if he has used the Lord's name in vain.

5. Why is Rudolph upset at the end of his confession with Father Schwartz in Chapter 2?
(a) Father Schwartz does not seem to care.
(b) He has not tell him everything.
(c) Father Schwartz says he is going to tell his father.
(d) He has told a lie, which is a sin.

6. Who can Father Schwartz hear pass by his window at 4 p.m.?
(a) A group of women.
(b) Schoolchildren.
(c) Nobody, the streets are eerily quiet.
(d) Ambulances.

7. Where is Father Schwartz at the start of Chapter 2?
(a) In his house.
(b) At the drugstore.
(c) At the Miller's.
(d) In the confessional.

8. Why does Rudolph decide to stay and confess rather than succumbing to his urge to leave?
(a) If he leaves his mother will be angry.
(b) If he leaves he will not get his sins off of his chest.
(c) If he leaves he cannot take communion.
(d) If he leaves he knows his father will find out.

9. What does Father ask Rudolph about the kinds of thoughts he confessed to having?
(a) Why he finds them problematic.
(b) If he has told anyone else about them.
(c) How often he has had them.
(d) If he enjoys them.

10. What does the carpet in Father Schwartz home bring to mind when he looks at it to avoid the sun?
(a) Gruesome labyrinths.
(b) Dingy roads.
(c) Solemn parishioners.
(d) Creepy gargoyles.

11. What does Father Schwartz tell Rudolph he should have done about the situation in the barn?
(a) He should have left and urged the girl to leave too.
(b) He should have ran straight to Father Schwartz.
(c) He should have told his parents.
(d) He should have told his friends to stop talking.

12. What does Rudolph confess to Father Schwartz about his feelings about his parents in Chapter 2?
(a) He has wished his parent's dead.
(b) He has thought his parents were evil.
(c) He has thought he might be too good to be his parent's son.
(d) He has wished his parent's would split up.

13. What word is used to describe how Rudolph felt about telling Father Schwartz his true sins?
(a) Agony.
(b) Anxiety.
(c) Apathy.
(d) Anticipation.

14. What is Rudolph's father's occupation?
(a) Housekeeper.
(b) Cleric.
(c) Freight agent.
(d) Teacher.

15. What is something that saddens Father Schwartz at the start of "Absolution"?
(a) He works so late he does not sleep.
(b) He feels unable to obtain perfect union with God.
(c) The noise outside his window makes it hard to read.
(d) He does not get along with his housekeeper.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who brings Rudolph Miller to Father Schwartz when he first comes to see him at the start of the story?

2. What scent makes Father Schwartz's heart ache as he walks the streets on Saturday night?

3. When does Chapter 2 begin?

4. How does Rudolph plan to avoid taking communion the day after he confesses to Father Schwartz in Chapter 2?

5. What does Father Schwartz offer to Rudolph when he will not tell him his sin?

(see the answer keys)

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