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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Where did Lessing grow up?

2. According to Lessing, what religion has encouraged Europeans to kill in the name of God?

3. Lessing referred to the sciences regarding human behavior as what type of science?

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

5. Lessing encouraged humans to learn from ____________.

Short Essay Questions

1. What did Lessing mean when she said that groups will often "vilify their opposition"?

2. In terms of collective beliefs during her life time, what idiocy struck Lessing?

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

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

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

6. Why did Lessing suggest that strengthening individuality would lead to a better world in the future?

7. Why did Lessing join a communist group in Rhodesia?

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

9. What was the purpose of cutting down a tree associated with a traitor? Why did Lessing find it ridiculous?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Lessing was raised in Rhodesia, where a small ruling class of whites dominated the black majority. Based on Lessing's theories, create an argument as to why the whites were successful in this endeavor.

Essay Topic 2

Akhnaton was an Egyptian ruler who changed the concept of Egyptian religion in spite of popular opinion.

1) What factors allowed Akhaton to be a free thinker?

2) What was the response from the masses?

3) What effect did his decision have on the future?

Essay Topic 3

Lessing believed that the word "blood" is a powerful one when it comes to inciting emotion.

1) Why did she find the word "blood" significant?

2) What are some examples she gives to support this theory?

3) What are the implications regarding human nature and violence?

(see the answer keys)

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