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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 is the "false theory of progress?" (Chesterton 2000, pg. 196)
(a) Defining man's progress in terms of religion.
(b) Changing the standards rather than becoming better.
(c) Confusing people with too much data.
(d) Tracking man's progress poorly.

2. According to Chesterton, why is Bernard Shaw hampered in his thinking?
(a) He can only tell lies that he believes.
(b) He tells too many lies.
(c) He is too logical in his arguments.
(d) He is not humorous enough.

3. According to Chesterton, what keeps a man sane?
(a) Religion.
(b) Reason.
(c) Mysticism.
(d) God.

4. What is the problem with taking change as the ideal in a man's life, according to Chesterton?
(a) The notion itself must be able to change, in order to suit the age.
(b) A man prefers monotony.
(c) Change, in itself, is narrow and tedious.
(d) Change cannot progress.

5. What do art and ecstasy recall to us, in Chesterton's words? (Chesterton 2000, p.g 212)
(a) "All the fire of the fairy tales is derived from this."
(b) "For certain dead levels of our life we forget that we have forgotten."
(c) "There is no connection, except that one has seen them together."
(d) "For one awful instant we remember that we forget."

Short Answer Questions

1. At the beginning of Chapter III, The Suicide of Thought, why does Chesterton say that the modern world is too good?

2. What does evolution destroy, according to Chesterton?

3. What examples does Chesterton give of lunatic thinking?

4. What is Chesterton's attitude toward fairy tales?

5. What does Chesterton name as the chief pleasure?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Chesterton say is the spirit of the law in fairy land? Why is this not inconsistent?

2. What is "the false theory of progress" (Chesterton 2000, pg 196)? What implications does it have for daily life?

3. The author says people can justly call him a fool because he is a fool. What does this reveal about the man himself? How does this set up expectations for the rest of the book?

4. In Chapter I, Introduction in Defense of Everything Else, Chesterton states that he hates the defense of something that cannot be proved or disproved. How is this important for the rest of the book?

5. Chesterton asserts that though the world has its share of evils, the modern virtues actually have a more devastating effect. How does he support this radical idea? What relationship does this have to Christianity?

6. "But it is a much more massive and important fact that he [the materialist] is not free to raise, to curse, the thank, to justify, to urge, the punish, to resist temptation, to incite mobs, to make New Year resolutions, to pardon sinners, to rebuke tyrants, or even to say 'thank you' for the mustard" (Chesterton 2000, pg 185). What is the context for this statement? Does it logically follow from Chesterton's argument?

7. Materialistic fatalism has been credited with being merciful, though Chesterton says this is far from the truth. Why can fatalism not be merciful?

8. As he begins to talk about fairy land, what does Chesterton argue about rationalism? How does this open the door to excitement in the world?

9. According to Chesterton, the complete skeptic knows that he cannot think anything. How does this differ from the young skeptic? How does the complete skeptic show a true awareness of where he is?

10. The second problem with modern thought is that it is intellectually weak and helpless. What does Chesterton mean by this idea? How is it manifested in everyday life, much less intellectual circles?

(see the answer keys)

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