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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Grand reveal?
(a) That he wrote the sermon.
(b) That he has a secret girlfriend.
(c) That he is in disguise.
(d) That he is writing a novel.

2. In what city is the story set?
(a) The city of Aran.
(b) The city of Oran.
(c) The city of Algiers.
(d) The city of Casablanca.

3. Why has the journalist Raymod Rambert come to Oran?
(a) To investigate the welfare of Arabs in Oran.
(b) To investigate the plague of rats in Oran.
(c) To interview the polic magistrate.
(d) To research suicide deaths in Oran.

4. Who comes with Grand to see Dr Rieux?
(a) Mme. de Valois.
(b) M. Cottard.
(c) The chief of police.
(d) M. Tarrou.

5. Why is Rieux called out to treat M. Cottard?
(a) M. Cottard has pneumonia.
(b) M. Cottard has slashed his wrists.
(c) M. Cottard has suffered a fit.
(d) M. Cottard has attempted to hang himself.

6. What action has Dr. Rieux already taken?
(a) He has ordered supplies of anti-plague serum.
(b) He has bought a train ticket out of town.
(c) He has started to manufacture anti-plague serum.
(d) He has organised mass poisonings of rats.

7. Who is Joseph Grand?
(a) He is M. Tarrou's neighbor.
(b) He is a Masonic Grand Master.
(c) He is Cottard's neighbor.
(d) He is Dr. Rieux's neighbor.

8. In what predicament does Rambert find himself?
(a) He cannot file the news story.
(b) He has missed out on a job as Editor of his paper.
(c) He is trapped in Oran away from his wife.
(d) He is afraid to tell anyone he has a fever.

9. What is Rieux's attitude to religion and God?
(a) He is open to being converted.
(b) He believes religion is all right some of the time.
(c) He believes ardently and attends Mass regularly.
(d) He is not a believer.

10. What is M. Grand's job?
(a) He is a bank manager.
(b) He is a clerk in the Municipal Office.
(c) He is Manager at the Municipal Office.
(d) He is a clerk at the hospital.

11. Why are people seeking pleasure?
(a) They are careless.
(b) It's a response to harsh new laws.
(c) It's a response to their lives being in danger.
(d) They are rebelling against the church.

12. Who is the first victim of the plague?
(a) M. Cottard.
(b) The concierge in Dr. Rieux's apartment building.
(c) The Spaniard.
(d) A railway porter.

13. What important change in people's behavior does Tarrou record?
(a) That they are more tolerant of drunks.
(b) That they laugh at the plague.
(c) That nobody laughs, except drunks.
(d) That everyone laughs, especially drunks.

14. What is the main message of the closing sermon at High Mass?
(a) People smoke and drink too much.
(b) God no longer cares about humanity.
(c) God is love.
(d) God has sent the plague to force people to repent.

15. With what does Rieux contrast pictures of the plague through history?
(a) A photograph of his wife.
(b) Cottard's predicament.
(c) Pictures of Oran's parks and gardens.
(d) The tranquil and beautiful spring day.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who volunteers to help Rieux?

2. How is the city situated geographically?

3. What does Dr. Rieux urge the committee to do?

4. What human attitude concerns Rieux?

5. How does the Spaniard spend his days?

(see the answer keys)

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