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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Tolkien focus on when his books make less than anticipated progress with publishers?
(a) His family.
(b) Writing other books.
(c) Writing to the publishers.
(d) His teaching job.

2. What will the alteration mean for the book Tolkien is writing in Letter #128?
(a) It will be designed to have a sequel.
(b) It will be meant not to be read by children.
(c) It will be designed not to have a sequel.
(d) It will be meant to be read by children.

3. As mentioned in Letter #66, why does Tolkien think that he will have to move some of the sections of his book?
(a) They are too short.
(b) They do not have the same writing style as the other sections.
(c) They are too long.
(d) They do not fit in with the storyline.

4. How does Tolkien describe the writing of The Hobbit to Christopher?
(a) Neither easy nor difficult.
(b) Easy.
(c) Difficult.
(d) Both easy and difficult.

5. Which one of Tolkien's books explains the history of Elvenkind?
(a) The Hobbit.
(b) The Silmarillion.
(c) The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún.
(d) The Lord of the Rings.

6. Which one of the following does Tolkien vigorously discuss in his letters?
(a) Talking with students.
(b) Reporting to class on time.
(c) Grading papers.
(d) Reading academic books.

7. During the time these letters are written, what term do the British typically use to label Americans?
(a) City folk.
(b) Colonists.
(c) Yanks.
(d) Westerners.

8. How is the Machine described in Letter #131?
(a) Neither disciplined nor industrialized.
(b) Industrialized, but undisciplined.
(c) Disciplined, but not industrialized.
(d) Industrialized and disciplined.

9. How does Tolkien originally respond to Unwin's request about the poem?
(a) He is confused by it.
(b) He is grateful.
(c) He is indifferent.
(d) He is unaware of it.

10. Who is the person that Tolkien thanks, and is the recipient of Letter #130?
(a) George Allen.
(b) Rayner Unwin.
(c) Humphrey Carpenter.
(d) Milton Waldman.

11. With whom does Tolkien work in order to avoid the responsibilities of chairing the English department?
(a) Colleagues.
(b) The dean.
(c) Students.
(d) The department supervisor.

12. What German word meaning "essential" does Tolkien refer to in Letter #6, stating that it is actually viewed as an English word?
(a) Entscheidend.
(b) Grundlegend.
(c) Wesenhaft.
(d) Unentbehrlich.

13. How many Rings of Power does the One Ring control?
(a) Seven.
(b) Nine.
(c) Eight.
(d) Ten.

14. What has Tolkien found in his manuscript when he writes Letter #69?
(a) Inconsistencies.
(b) Too many analogies.
(c) Inaccuracies.
(d) Too many metaphors.

15. Whom does Tolkien originally ask to draw maps for the imaginary world of The Lord of the Rings?
(a) Christopher.
(b) A professional illustrator.
(c) Edith.
(d) A friend.

Short Answer Questions

1. In Letter, #6, to what college subject does Tolkien refer?

2. Who provides the main order of the letters included in the book?

3. How does Tolkien design the book, Farmer Giles of Ham?

4. Who does Tolkien express gratitude to in Letter #6?

5. What do the letters selected for "To Unwin about The Hobbit" have in common?

(see the answer keys)

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