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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Heloise ask Abelard in Letter 6?
(a) To forgive her.
(b) To tell her how the order of nuns began.
(c) To tell her how nuns should conduct themselves.
(d) To describe the reasons for her to go on being a nun.

2. What does Abelard say life becomes in poverty?
(a) A community.
(b) A common store.
(c) A firm law.
(d) A resource.

3. What qualities must distinguish an Abbess, in Abelard's opinion?
(a) Lifelong chastity.
(b) Learning and teaching.
(c) Management experience.
(d) Broad life experience.

4. What does Abelard rely on in providing a rule for the lives of the nuns at Paraclete?
(a) His monastery's practices.
(b) Different religions' monastic practices.
(c) Scripture.
(d) Ancient practices.

5. What does Peter the Venerable say Abelard's last days with him were devoted to?
(a) God.
(b) Praying.
(c) Service.
(d) Writing.

6. What else does Peter the Venerable say he is impressed by?
(a) Heloise's generosity to the convent.
(b) Heloise's recommendations to the church bureaucracy.
(c) Heloise's improvements in the monastic system.
(d) Heloise's graceful handling of her difficulties.

7. What does Peter the Venerable say about Abelard?
(a) He praises his temperament.
(b) He praises his writing.
(c) He praises his work.
(d) He praises his intellect.

8. From whom was Abelard seeking refuge?
(a) Anselm of Laon.
(b) Fulbert.
(c) The Abbot of Citeaux.
(d) The pope.

9. What does Heloise say in Letter 6 that she cannot make herself do?
(a) Pray.
(b) Obey Abelard.
(c) Beg for forgiveness.
(d) Seek God.

10. How does Abelard describe wisdom in his Rule?
(a) Knowing your place.
(b) Keeping oneself pure.
(c) Holding your tongue.
(d) Knowing yourself.

11. To what does Abelard respond at first in Letter 7?
(a) Heloise's initial quotes about nuns' practices.
(b) Heloise's request for leniency.
(c) Heloise's request for patience.
(d) Heloise's demand for information.

12. What news about Abelard does the sender of Letter 9 relate?
(a) That he is instituting progressive reforms.
(b) That he has proposed an order for nuns.
(c) That he is accused of heresy.
(d) That he is becoming a popular leader.

13. What does Abelard say about the daughters of Aaron?
(a) They betrayed their brothers' priestly duties.
(b) They held priestly office equally with their brothers.
(c) They excelled their brothers in devotion.
(d) They took the priestly offices from their brothers.

14. What does Abelard say nuns should study?
(a) Government.
(b) Religion.
(c) Scripture.
(d) History.

15. What does Abelard mean to indicate by the example of the Sibyl's prophecies?
(a) Women honored among Gentiles.
(b) Honored women in antiquity.
(c) Women who implemented church doctrine.
(d) Women who paid a price for falling away from priesthood.

Short Answer Questions

1. Which is not a part of the Rule Abelard describes to Heloise in Letter 8?

2. How many nuns are needed to run a convent, according to Abelard?

3. What does Letter 7 describe to Heloise?

4. To what does Abelard compare a monastery when he says that someone has to be in charge?

5. What did Abelard do right before he died?

(see the answer keys)

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