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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is Friendship House?
(a) A place to make a religious retreat.
(b) A monastery guesthouse.
(c) A place that helps poor residents in Harlem.
(d) A cottage in New York.

2. What does Merton tell his brother when he comes to Gethsemani?
(a) Everything Merton knows about Catholicism.
(b) The names of women he should visit.
(c) How to stay safe while traveling.
(d) The address of a priest in New York he must visit.

3. What sends Merton into a frustrating "holding pattern"?
(a) Discovering that his friends had sabotaged him in his desire to be a priest.
(b) Being told that he must wait to find a teaching job until the next year.
(c) Being told to withdraw his application to the monastery and that he has no vocation to be a priest.
(d) Finding out that he was taken off the waiting list at St. Bonaventure.

4. What does Merton think of Father Edmund's recommendation to apply to the order in August of 1940?
(a) Merton thinks that is too long to wait.
(b) Merton becomes discouraged and thinks about not applying at all.
(c) Merton agrees and takes Father Edmund's advice.
(d) Merton decides not to apply to the priesthood until the next year.

5. What is Merton afraid to tell anyone when he is teaching at St. Bonaventure?
(a) That he stills yearns to be a monk.
(b) His deepest and darkest sins.
(c) The condition of his teeth.
(d) About his experiences overseas.

6. What is Merton's role at Friendship House?
(a) He works as a priest.
(b) He raises money for the administration.
(c) He is a guest of the owner.
(d) He is a volunteer.

7. Who does Merton talk to when he first starts to tell people he wants to be a priest?
(a) Mark Van Doren.
(b) Robert Lax.
(c) Dan Walsh.
(d) Ed Rice.

8. When does Merton plan to make a retreat at Gethsemani when writing to the Abbott?
(a) At Easter.
(b) At Christmas.
(c) In the following year.
(d) In September.

9. What stops Merton from making his retreat at Gethsemani?
(a) He receives a second draft notice.
(b) He volunteers for duty in the infantry.
(c) He decides to stay at Friendship House.
(d) He hears his brother is ill.

10. What action does Merton take to become a monk after lunch at the Columbia Faculty Club?
(a) He visits his brother to discuss the matter.
(b) He follows the advice of Mark Van Doren.
(c) He applies for early admission to the Franciscans.
(d) He writes to the abbot at Gethsemani.

11. What causes Merton's unhappiness when he is teaching?
(a) Not being able to find a meaningful job.
(b) Receiving a draft notice.
(c) Being forced to withdraw his application to the monastery.
(d) Being separated from his friends.

12. What impact does Catherine de Hueck have on Merton?
(a) Her wealth influences him.
(b) Her belief he should leave the priesthood angers him.
(c) She inspires him with her work among the poor.
(d) Her calling to become a nun makes him envious.

13. Who is the Baroness?
(a) The woman who runs Friendship House.
(b) The woman who frustrates Merton romantically.
(c) The woman Merton meets on retreat.
(d) The woman who volunteers at St. Bonaventure.

14. Who accepts Merton into the community of monks?
(a) Abbot Dom Frederic.
(b) Father Brown.
(c) Abbot Snow.
(d) Father Edmund.

15. Why does Merton register for the draft in the way that he does?
(a) He wants to gain attention and fame.
(b) He is morally opposed to war.
(c) He follows the advice of his religious teachers.
(d) He opposes the methods of warfare.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why does Merton not enter the military draft?

2. How could Merton have registered for the draft?

3. What were growing interests for Merton in Olean?

4. What does Merton write in his draft papers?

5. With whom does Merton receive the habit he will wear as a monk?

(see the answer keys)

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