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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. Lessing referenced a ten-year war of independence that took place in ___________.
(a) Guam.
(b) Mexico.
(c) Chile.
(d) Zimbabwe.

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

3. What happened to the miner who returned to work during the miner's strike?
(a) He fell through a shaft.
(b) His friends beat him.
(c) He was a national hero.
(d) His boss killed him.

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

5. How did the whites feel about the blacks in Rhodesia?
(a) Vindictive.
(b) Benevolent.
(c) Protective.
(d) Prejudiced.

Short Answer Questions

1. Lessing found the tree cutting to be symbolic of ____________.

2. According to Lessing, what do Christians believe in?

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

4. What does Lessing believe that humans know?

5. What did Lessing reference as a method groups use to encourage others not to think?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why did Lessing believe the tendency to buy into vilification was a form of popular lunacy?

2. In the anecdote about killing the bull, what did Lessing suggest that the farmer's revenge actions on the bull demonstrated?

3. What comments did Lessing make about the length of time the white ruling class was in power in Rhodesia?

4. What service did Lessing feel that novelists brought to the world?

5. Why was Lessing not surprised by the story of the attack on the British miner who was beaten by his friends?

6. When onlookers recognize that others are lying, Lessing believed they refuse to protest the lies for what purpose?

7. What is remarkable about the fact that the blacks were treated as second class citizens in Rhodesia?

8. Why did Lessing feel that our ability to consider differing viewpoints might save the human race?

9. Why did Lessing believe sub-groups with opposing positions were dangerous?

10. Lessing believed that if humans could learn from our history, we could change our future in what respect?

(see the answer keys)

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