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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Barks talks in his commentary about the mysterious "________" in the poem, though he defines it differently.
(a) Color.
(b) Book.
(c) You.
(d) Bird.

2. Rumi says to give up wanting what others hand and says that the day is a __________ day, according to his writing.
(a) Truthful.
(b) Joyous.
(c) Self aware.
(d) Sad.

3. The poet says the he would die into _______, as clouds might disappear into the sun, according to his writings.
(a) Love.
(b) Bliss.
(c) The moon.
(d) Shams.

4. Rumi says that he does not regret love or passion, but owners everyone's __________, according to the writing.
(a) Flaws.
(b) Questions.
(c) Paths.
(d) Lessons.

5. What images in the book does Barks say reflect the idea of openings within the world and in the poems?
(a) Doors.
(b) Birds.
(c) Cages.
(d) Windows.

6. It is essential, according to Rumi, to know of the __________, which may sometimes be open and sometimes closed.
(a) Soul.
(b) Door.
(c) Window.
(d) Heart.

7. The poet describes _________ appearing at the footsteps of his teacher, in one of his poems in this section.
(a) Flowers.
(b) Gold pieces.
(c) Puddles.
(d) Books.

8. Rumi became joyous, and then died, and then became a fool, according to his writing, and then became scattered _________.
(a) Smoke.
(b) Water.
(c) Thought.
(d) Pebbles.

9. When asked how long he would remain in pain, Rumi answered that he was a _________ and his friend was the whole night.
(a) Moonbeam.
(b) Student.
(c) Star.
(d) Candle.

10. The soul, says Rumi, is in the shape of a ___________, according to one of his many poems.
(a) Heart.
(b) Bowl.
(c) Thought.
(d) Stone.

11. Who is the madman that wields a knife, the thing which is a nihilist that embraces destruction?
(a) Trust.
(b) Pity.
(c) Love.
(d) Truth.

12. What season does Rumi say it always is within the human soul, according to his writing?
(a) Autumn.
(b) Winter.
(c) Spring.
(d) Summer.

13. Though the _________ tries to think and read to find his lover again, there is no help in it, he realizes.
(a) Flower.
(b) Mountain.
(c) Book.
(d) Poet.

14. The poet says that he is a letter to everyone around him, a letter which says, "_______" according to the poet.
(a) Live.
(b) Honor.
(c) Love.
(d) Pray.

15. Lovers have to ________________, but they will find something of infinite value, according to the writing of Rumi.
(a) Fall into a hole.
(b) Separate.
(c) Know the truth.
(d) Fight with each other.

Short Answer Questions

1. The poem at the start of this section describes the idea that human beings visit space through breaking one's ________ down.

2. Shams points out that what everyone is actually worshiping is ___________, rather than a higher being.

3. Barks writes in the commentary that Rumi was asked once why we wrote so much since he valued ___________.

4. The poet asks the reader what caused a __________ to open and to consume them within their lives.

5. Rumi uses the metaphor of tilling the soil to plant trees and roses for the way that one breaks up the __________.

(see the answer keys)

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