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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. Beside the feelings of poverty, what is necessary to completely purge the spirit?
(a) Revulsion.
(b) Wretchedness.
(c) Elation.
(d) Unfaithfulness.

2. St. John writes that because of the goodness of God's divine wisdom, the soul actually feels as if it is being what?
(a) Abolished.
(b) Strengthened.
(c) Punished.
(d) Immortalized.

3. The author says the severity of the trials of a person going through the dark night depends on what?
(a) The severity of the person's sin.
(b) The age of the person.
(c) The strength of the person's soul and faith.
(d) The wealth the person can offer the church.

4. According to the author, why must the soul forget all forms of natural love?
(a) To reflect the state of a baby.
(b) To be reminded of sin.
(c) To become more like God.
(d) To appreciate divine love.

5. The purging of the soul in the feeling of poverty is compared to what in Book II, Chapter VI?
(a) A rebirth.
(b) The sun and the stars.
(c) Metal in fire.
(d) Wood in fire.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the title of the poem that is introduced in the prologue?

2. On what does the author expound, in Book I, Chapter XI?

3. What does St. John say a man has that will impede the process of unifying with God?

4. As described in Book II, Chapter II, what are deeply rooted in the spirit of a person and must be removed by the purging of the soul?

5. In Book I, Chapter VIII, what does the first night purify?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Book II, Chapter V, what reasons are given for the dark night to be named "dark" and not "light"?

2. As described in Book II, Chapter, I, can a person who has passed through the night of darkness still be afflicted with other periods of darkness? Why?

3. What are the three types of pain that result from human and divine meeting in one, as discussed in Book II, Chapter VI?

4. In Book II, Chapter X, how does the divine fire of God teach about the state of souls in purgatory?

5. Why must the soul face the darkness even though there is only misery there, as described in Book II, Chapter IX?

6. How does St. John say a person changes when his spirit becomes united with God and how does his understanding of love change?

7. In Book I, Chapter XI, what is the Christian's new desire upon being ignited with the spirit of love?

8. How does the author compare divine light to sunlight?

9. How must a believer react when first realizing he has entered the dark night, according to Book I, Chapter X?

10. What does St. John say must change in a person in order for the divine and the human to exist within the same person?

(see the answer keys)

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