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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In the Christian's view, why does a man's soul provide enough outlet for both the optimist and the pessimist?
(a) He now has reason to claim brotherhood with Christ.
(b) He is exalted as God's creation and humbled as a sinner.
(c) He has hope for a heavenly future but fear for an earthly one.
(d) Both passions are allowed free reign.

2. According to Chesterton, what mindset, paralleling patriotism, leads to reform?
(a) Irrational optimism.
(b) Rational pessimism.
(c) Rational optimism.
(d) Irrational pessimism.

3. Why does Chesterton call suicide the greatest sin?
(a) Because, in the eyes of one man, it kills the whole world.
(b) Because man is acting like God.
(c) Because it takes a life God had given.
(d) Because it cuts off the future.

4. How does the Christian idea of a transcendent God manifest itself in a frightening way?
(a) God sometimes disappears and cannot be found again.
(b) God is so different from man that the two cannot relate.
(c) God is so far above man that he can never be reached.
(d) God sometimes disappears and must be sought.

5. What does Chesterton say is the result of believing that progress is a natural, predictable happening?
(a) A person ceases to believe in progress.
(b) A person looks for ethical support.
(c) A person becomes lazy.
(d) A person works harder to achieve this.

6. What definition does Chesterton find BEST for optimist and pessimist?
(a) An optimist sees the world as the best it can be, while the pessimist sees the world as the worst it can be.
(b) An optimist thinks everything right but the pessimist, while the pessimist thinks everything wrong but himself.
(c) An optimist has nothing but hope, while the pessimist has everything but hope.
(d) An optimist looks after your eyes, while a pessimist looks after your feet.

7. What people, in their interactions with women, does Chesterton call stupid?
(a) Those who think women's loyalty is a fault.
(b) Those who take women for granted.
(c) Those who abuse a woman's loyalty by constantly testing it.
(d) Those who think women's loyalty stems from blindness to a man's fault.

8. After studying the attacks on Christianity, what did Chesterton conclude?
(a) Christianity was full of logical problems.
(b) Christianity might actually be true.
(c) Christianity must be very wrong or absolutely right.
(d) Attacks on Christianity were largely valid.

9. Chesterton chooses miracles as his first example regarding liberal thinking. What does he call this example?
(a) The easiest place to start.
(b) The worst problem facing liberals.
(c) The most obvious choice.
(d) The easiest point to prove.

10. In Chesterton's thoughts, Christianity came to assert passionately what idea?
(a) Man must look inward for salvation.
(b) Man must look to the Old Testament for salvation.
(c) Man's salvation will come only when Christ returns.
(d) Man must look outward for salvation.

11. 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) If a man always works toward a blue world, he will eventually succeed.
(c) Man can begin with the desire for a blue world but should not end there.
(d) Man's desire for a blue world is only illusory.

12. Why are people who admire Christianity, but do not believe it, uncomfortable?
(a) Christianity has philosophical answers but not realistic answers.
(b) Christianity has only a few answers for their problems.
(c) Christianity was valid in the past but may not continue to be valid.
(d) Christianity is elaborately right.

13. What does Chesterton call the worst religion of all?
(a) The religion of the Christian God.
(b) The religion that worships multiple gods.
(c) The religion that worships the god inside.
(d) The religion that debases a man.

14. What does Chesterton call "the spike of dogma" that changed his religious opinion? (Chesterton 2000, pg. 234)
(a) God is loving and created the world in his image.
(b) God is all-powerful and created the world.
(c) God can be found in the nature that he made.
(d) God is personal and made a world separate from himself.

15. Why does Chesterton say that miracles are eminently desirable?
(a) Miracles give people a glimpse of the supernatural.
(b) Man can begin to understand God.
(c) Man can triumph over nature's cruelty.
(d) Religious people have the opportunity to prove their beliefs.

Short Answer Questions

1. In Chesterton's example, why is it important for Gradgrind to give his employees skeptical literature?

2. In looking at Christianity and materialism, what coincidence stopped Chesterton in his tracks?

3. What taunt does Swinburne hurl about the Galilean, Christ?

4. What is Chesterton's first criterion for progress?

5. What is the enormous mistake of the modern age, according to Chesterton?

(see the answer keys)

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