View a FREE sample

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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In "Town and Country," how does the town man usually reply to his country friend's invitation to visit him in the country?
(a) No.
(b) Never.
(c) Next year.
(d) Tomorrow.

2. Rumi lived during a time when brotherhood was expected between:
(a) Christians and Jews.
(b) Jews and Hindus.
(c) Muslims and Christians.
(d) Hindus and Muslims.

3. Along with the gift that the prisoner receives in one of the poems in Chapter 2, Book 2, what unexpected useful addition does he get?
(a) Information about his loved ones.
(b) Information to facilitate his escape.
(c) Food to sustain him.
(d) Songs to sustain him.

4. Rumi blends images from Christianity and Islam to:
(a) Point out the absurdity of religion.
(b) Try to reconcile all people in his village.
(c) Create his own stories.
(d) Enforce religion upon his students.

5. Rumi advises people to accept help from holy scriptures and then:
(a) Re-read the same scriptures a hundred times.
(b) Let them go.
(c) Seek a wise counselor.
(d) Find their inherent flaws.

6. What invitation does the countryside man extend to his town friend in "Town and Country"?
(a) Move permanently to the country.
(b) Come meet his children.
(c) Take a vacation in the country.
(d) Come ride his horses.

7. Islam originated with:
(a) Isaac.
(b) Buddha.
(c) Jesus.
(d) Mohammad.

8. The first poem in Book 2, Chapter 3 is about the story of:
(a) Genesis.
(b) The Commandments.
(c) The Resurrection.
(d) Noah's Ark.

9. In the second love story in Chapter 2, Book 2, the three sons end up affected by their reactions to what?
(a) What turns out to be nothing but a rumor.
(b) The unexpected death of the woman all three love.
(c) Limits imposed on them by their employer.
(d) What is forbidden to them.

10. After the girl whom the king loves gets better in one of the poems in Chapter 2, Book 2, what does the doctor do?
(a) Kills the sorcerer.
(b) Strikes her lover dead.
(c) Reveals that the king is a fraud.
(d) Becomes the king's lover.

11. Who is Kharraqani?
(a) Priest.
(b) Sheik.
(c) Saint.
(d) Peasant.

12. While in the frying pan, what epiphany does a fish have in Book 2, Chapter 1?
(a) He's learned his lesson.
(b) He's just dreaming.
(c) Better him in the pan than his friends.
(d) Existence goes on regardless of circumstances.

13. In "Town and Country," what does the countryside man do?
(a) Falls in love with a lady in town.
(b) Visits the town for a day.
(c) Sculpts a statue in town.
(d) Pitches a tent in town.

14. At the start of the group of poems in Book 2, Chapter 2, Coleman Barks gives an introduction that includes folklore from what religious tradition?
(a) Christian.
(b) Hindu.
(c) Judaic.
(d) Taoist.

15. In the section called "Solomon Poems," Rumi's poetry makes direct references to:
(a) Hinduism and Christianity.
(b) Buddhism and Islam.
(c) Islam and Christianity.
(d) Judaism and Buddhism.

Short Answer Questions

1. The "Solomon Poems" are devoted to the spiritual life, referring to:

2. In one of the poems in Chapter 2, Book 2, a king falls in love with a girl and decides to do what?

3. Despite high tension between different religions during his lifetime, Rumi was able to do what?

4. Rumi's poetry gives us a glimpse of what?

5. Rumi is considered a master at creating what?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 574 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample