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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What did Lessing think about the ideals held by the political group she briefly joined?
(a) They were insane.
(b) They were typical.
(c) They were brilliant.
(d) They were well constructed.

2. Lessing felt that the party ruling Rhodesia was ____________.
(a) Admirable.
(b) Progressive.
(c) Brilliant.
(d) Oppressive.

3. According to Lessing, what do novelists have the ability to do?
(a) Dumb down society.
(b) Make money in the arts.
(c) Reflect human behavior.
(d) Slander whoever they want.

4. Lessing believed people could grow if they only detached from ___________.
(a) The idea of love.
(b) Lessons from the past.
(c) Their family.
(d) Mass emotion.

5. Lessing believed the human race to be in _________.
(a) "An expected state."
(b) "Purgatory."
(c) "An inspirational transformation."
(d) "A terrible mess."

6. Which sciences did Lessing feel gave the best data regarding human behavior?
(a) None of the above.
(b) Anthropology and archaeology.
(c) Psychology and social anthropology.
(d) Astronomy and physiology.

7. Lessing mentions a tree that was cut down in what country?
(a) China.
(b) France.
(c) Belgium.
(d) Spain.

8. According to Lessing, what religion has encouraged Europeans to kill in the name of God?
(a) Christianity.
(b) Judaism.
(c) Agnostics.
(d) Muslim.

9. What position did Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. hold?
(a) Maintenance worker.
(b) Mayor.
(c) Teacher.
(d) Jurist.

10. Lessing believed history was a great __________.
(a) Teacher.
(b) Disaster.
(c) Myth.
(d) Confusion.

11. When the bull keeper was killed, who asked for compensation?
(a) The boy's parents.
(b) The farmer.
(c) The owner of the bull.
(d) No one.

12. Who wrote the Arthasastra?
(a) The Apostle Paul.
(b) Kautilya.
(c) Rudyard Kipling.
(d) Chaucer.

13. Lessing encouraged humans to learn from ____________.
(a) Differing viewpoints.
(b) Family history.
(c) Folklore.
(d) The news.

14. What surprised Lessing regarding human behavior over time?
(a) The faith that has grown.
(b) How little it had changed.
(c) How much it had changed.
(d) The intelligence amassed.

15. The political group Lessing joined in Rhodesia held what hope for the world under their rule?
(a) No crime.
(b) No sexual prejudice.
(c) All of these.
(d) No racial prejudice.

Short Answer Questions

1. When political groups or religions have a conflict, what does Lessing believe that those involved typically stop doing?

2. What was Lessing's concern regarding the application of science on human behavior?

3. Why did a member of the striking mine workers go back to work during the strike?

4. What did people think of the farmer's decision to punish the bull?

5. Why did Lessing believe the bull owner had no control over his response?

(see the answer keys)

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