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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. Who does Stephanus claim taught Wilfrid the rules of Easter while he was in this city?
(a) Bishop Baducing.
(b) Archbishop Dalfinus.
(c) Archbishop Dalfinus.
(d) Bishop Colman.

2. To whom did Bede write the prologue to his "Life of Cuthbert"?
(a) Christians of future generations.
(b) Christians of who were served by his ministry.
(c) His father.
(d) Bishop Eadfrid.

3. According to Stephanus, how did the expansion of the Kingdom that Wilfrid advised expand his authority as Bishop?
(a) Wilfrid became wealthier from the expansion of the kingdom and used his wealth to buy support from Rome.
(b) Wilfrid became bishop over the Saxons, British, Scots, and Picts.
(c) Wilfrid was recognized by Rome as a powerful Bishop of England.
(d) Wilfrid used the expansion of the kingdom to claim more lands for the church.

4. How does Bede claim Cuthbert kept birds from eating the barley crop he grew as he lived in isolation as a monk?
(a) He kept a week-long prayer and fast to appeal to God to deliver his crops from the offending birds.
(b) He said, "God will banish your souls to condemnation should you be robbing from His anointed."
(c) He said, ". . . If God has given you permission, then do as He bade you: if not, be off with you, . . ."
(d) He invented the scarecrow.

5. What does Bede claim came of the person to whom Cuthbert prophesied his death?
(a) He passed the story of Cuthbert's death to Bede.
(b) Cuthbert blessed him and he lived many years after receiving the prophesy.
(c) He was made abbot of lindisfarne.
(d) He died at the same time as Cuthbert.

Short Answer Questions

1. Of what does Stephanus claim Wilfrid accused English bishops prior to his journey to Gaul?

2. What does Bede claim Cuthbert did to convert water to wine as he stayed at a convent in Tyne?

3. Whose record of Cuthbert's death did Bede use?

4. Why did Bede address his prologue to its named recipient?

5. Over what issue did Wilfrid debate Bishop Colman according to Stephanus?

Short Essay Questions

1. According to Farmer, why is Stephanus's "Life of Wilfrid" unique among all literature?

2. Who does Bede credit with healing Cuthbert from a childhood disease that made him lame?

3. Who does Bede report presided over a great synod that selected Cuthbert as Bishop of Lindisfarne?

4. Who does Stephanus report that Wilfred nominated to become abbot after his death?

5. Why does Farmer consider Bede's "Lives of the Abbots" historically significant?

6. Why did Bede claim that he wrote "The Life of Cuthbert"?

7. What was the debate that Wilfred conducted with Bishop Colman, and what does Stephanus suggest it led to?

8. What is Farmer's closing opinion of the texts of "The Age of Bede"?

9. How does Stephanus report King Theodoric of the Franks rejected a letter requesting Wilfred be returned dead or alive to his see to face trial?

10. Why does Farmer consider "The Voyage of St. Brendan" an important text in "The Age of Bede"?

(see the answer keys)

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