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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What occurs in the tale of seduction Valmont tells Merteuil in letter 79?
(a) The many mistresses of the King.
(b) One woman seduces three brothers.
(c) Valmont himself and two unnamed women.
(d) Three couples get hoodwinked by one man.

2. What does Cécile think are pretty much the same thing?
(a) Friendship and love.
(b) Friendship and marriage.
(c) Innocence and ignorance.
(d) Sex and love.

3. What is the tone of Cécile's letter 55 to Sophie?
(a) Tender and cautious.
(b) Gloating and mocking.
(c) Frightened and remorseful.
(d) Adult and experienced.

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

5. What advice does Cécile's friend offer regarding Danceny's letter?
(a) Cécile should reply immediately and assure Danceny of her love.
(b) Cécile should reply and chastise Danceny for taking such a liberty.
(c) Cécile should show the letter to her mother.
(d) Cécile should not respond.

6. What does Madame de Tourvel offer Valmont?
(a) Her friendship.
(b) Her hatred.
(c) Her undying love.
(d) Her body.

7. How does Valmont force Madame de Tourvel's maid to help with his plans?
(a) He threatens to blackmail her.
(b) He bribes her with 400 francs.
(c) He humiliates her by forcing her to be naked.
(d) He rapes her.

8. Who are the two people Cécile admits she likes best?
(a) Valmont and Merteuil.
(b) Danceny and Madame de Volanges.
(c) Merteuil and Danceny.
(d) Merteuil and Madame de Rosemonde.

9. What does Valmont ask Madame de Tourvel to do in letter 35?
(a) Commit to a sexual relationship with him.
(b) Divorce her husband, the judge.
(c) Give him the names of those saying bad things about him.
(d) Move to Paris so they can be seen in society together.

10. How does Valmont spy on Madame de Tourvel?
(a) He hides behind a tapestry in her room.
(b) He peeps through the keyhole of her room.
(c) He climbs a balcony to look through her window.
(d) He uses a listening device in the room next to hers.

11. What does Madame de Tourvel allow Valmont to do?
(a) Have sex with her.
(b) Stay at Madame de Rosemonde's estate.
(c) Write to her while they are apart.
(d) Tell Madame de Rosemonde about his feelings for her.

12. How do today's readers of Laclos interpret his novel?
(a) They neglect several characters and only focus on one or two.
(b) They always apply Laclos' personal history to the meaning of the novel.
(c) They find that each character has definite motivations.
(d) They cannot agree on the ambiguous meanings and motivations of the characters.

13. What does Madame de Tourvel tell Madame de Volanges she will do to get rid of Valmont?
(a) She will fake her own death.
(b) She will leave Madame de Rosemonde's estate.
(c) She will ask him to leave his aunt's estate.
(d) She will blackmail and humiliate him.

14. On what issue does Cécile ask Merteuil's advice in letter 27?
(a) Which gown she should wear to the opera the next night.
(b) Whether she should tell her mother of her interest in Danceny.
(c) Whether it would be wrong to correspond with Danceny.
(d) Whether Merteuil thinks Danceny will remain faithful.

15. What is the first action Valmont takes to make Madame de Tourvel look favorably upon him?
(a) He expresses interest in a position in the Church.
(b) He disarms a burglar at the estate.
(c) He pays a peasant family's back taxes.
(d) He leaps to his aunt's aid when she falls.

Short Answer Questions

1. According to Merteuil in letter 10, which pretext do women use to submit to sexual pleasure with a man?

2. With which philosophical movement of the 18th century is Laclos associated?

3. How does Madame de Tourvel react when Valmont professes his love?

4. How was __Les Liaisons Dangereuses_ treated after the turn of the 20th century?

5. What does Valmont say is notable about the man pursuing Merteuil?

(see the answer keys)

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