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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 makes Tarrou and Rieux very conscious of their isolation?
(a) The silences at night.
(b) The fact that they never get mail from the outside world.
(c) The view from the terrace at the asthma patient's home.
(d) Looking at a full moon.

2. How is M. Othon's predicament solved?
(a) The Prefect intervenes and sorts things out.
(b) The mislaid paperwork is found.
(c) Rieux intervenes and sorts things out.
(d) Rambert threatens to write a news article about it.

3. To what does Dr. Rieux confess?
(a) That he is a secret believer in Christianity.
(b) That he has stolen Tarrou's journal.
(c) That he did not love his wife.
(d) That he is the narrator.

4. How do his friends try to help Grand?
(a) They try to organise a promotion for him at work.
(b) They help him with his grocery shopping.
(c) They help him try to find a satisfactory opening sentence for his novel.
(d) They smuggle in paper for his novel-writing.

5. What does Rambert anticipate happening when he meets his wife again?
(a) Instant happiness.
(b) Things will be over between them.
(c) She will worry that he has lost weight.
(d) He has changed, so will reject her.

Short Answer Questions

1. What was the elder Tarrou's obsession?

2. How does Rieux encourage Tarrou?

3. What is the prime factor in his decision?

4. What important Christian feast is ignored this year?

5. How does Rieux break with policy?

Short Essay Questions

1. Comment on the change in M. Othon.

2. What is the reason for Rambert's decision?

3. What is unusual about Tarrou's illness?

4. How are local printing firms and newspapers able to profit by people's fear of the plague?

5. What is Tarrou's philosophy?

6. Do you think Dr. Castel's serum is likely to be of help?

7. What choice does Rambert make in Part 4 Chapter 2?

8. Explain the nature of the irony in the beginning of Part 5 Chapter 3.

9. What gives the people cause for hope in Part 5 Chapter 1?

10. Has Cottard really gained from his profiteering during the plague?

(see the answer keys)

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