View a FREE sample

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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In what time period did Lessing grow up?
(a) The sixties.
(b) Pre World War II.
(c) The turn of the century.
(d) Post World War II.

2. Where did Lessing grow up?
(a) Great Britain.
(b) Boston.
(c) Perth.
(d) Southern Rhodesia.

3. Why did a member of the striking mine workers go back to work during the strike?
(a) He agreed with the union terms.
(b) Lack of faith in the strike leader.
(c) To get public attention.
(d) To defy his country.

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

5. What did onlookers believe about the opposing sides from the miner's strike?
(a) One side was lying.
(b) Both were lying.
(c) The issue was great entertainment.
(d) Both were telling the truth.

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

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

8. Why did Lessing believe the bull owner had no control over his response?
(a) He drank too much.
(b) He was irresponsible.
(c) It was God's will.
(d) It was human nature.

9. What does Lessing remember about the group of people in the party she briefly joined in Rhodesia?
(a) They were fun.
(b) All of these.
(c) They were well-read.
(d) They were normal.

10. What was the race of the boy the bull killed?
(a) Hispanic.
(b) White.
(c) Black.
(d) Asian.

11. During Lessing's time in Rhodesia, how many people were in the political party she briefly joined?
(a) 5.
(b) 200.
(c) 300.
(d) 40.

12. What was an unquestionable belief held by the political party Lessing joined in Rhodesia?
(a) Religion was obsolete.
(b) None of these.
(c) Blacks were superior.
(d) Communism was dead.

13. As a whole, Lessing considered writers to be ______________.
(a) An organism.
(b) A wasted profession.
(c) A plague.
(d) A bad influence.

14. What did people think of the farmer's decision to punish the bull?
(a) It was symbolic.
(b) It was necessary.
(c) It was foolish.
(d) It was wise.

15. Where did the miner's strike referenced by Lessing take place?
(a) Chile.
(b) Britain.
(c) Australia.
(d) United States.

Short Answer Questions

1. According to Lessing, what word gets people excited to fight?

2. Who wrote the Arthasastra?

3. What idea was popular prior to Hitler and the Cold War?

4. What is the origin of the farmer who owned the bull?

5. Growing up, Lessing was briefly a member of what party?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 413 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample