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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In letter 15, what does Valmont call Merteuil about her attentions to her current lover?
(a) He calls her gentle and caring.
(b) He calls her an attention seeker.
(c) He calls her selfish and callous.
(d) He calls her a slave to another's pleasure.

2. What does Madame de Volanges discover about her daughter?
(a) She has been disrespectful to God.
(b) She has been spending her inheritance foolishly.
(c) She has been having sex with Valmont.
(d) She has been corresponding with Danceny.

3. What does Merteuil call Danceny in letter 38?
(a) Quiet and wise.
(b) Stupid and boring.
(c) Brainy and obtuse.
(d) Canny and secretive.

4. What is the first action Valmont takes to make Madame de Tourvel look favorably upon him?
(a) He disarms a burglar at the estate.
(b) He pays a peasant family's back taxes.
(c) He expresses interest in a position in the Church.
(d) He leaps to his aunt's aid when she falls.

5. How does Valmont avoid detection of his and the Vicomtesse's dalliance?
(a) He pretends there was a burglar in her room.
(b) He pretends to become ill and incapable of making love.
(c) He accuses her of sleeping with a different man.
(d) He sneaks away from the house before everyone wakes.

6. What does Danceny refuse to do, despite Madame de Volanges' request?
(a) Marry another woman.
(b) Burn his letters.
(c) Return Cécile's letters.
(d) Travel abroad to forget Cécile.

7. Whom does Valmont plan to seduce?
(a) Josephine.
(b) Madame de Volanges.
(c) Merteuil.
(d) Madame de Tourvel.

8. Whom does Danceny trust to help him continue his relationship with Cécile?
(a) Bertram.
(b) Madame de Rosemonde.
(c) Valmont.
(d) Madame de Tourvel.

9. How does Coward recommend the novel should be criticized?
(a) By employing only what the reader knows about Laclos' life.
(b) By referencing only the text itself, and no outside information.
(c) By using a variety of critical theories and methodologies.
(d) By placing the novel only in the context of 18th-century France.

10. How does Cécile initially feel about Danceny?
(a) She hates his strict style of teaching.
(b) She falls deeply in love with him.
(c) She feels ambivalent about him and he bores her.
(d) She likes him and wants to please him with her musical abilities.

11. What idea does Merteuil plant in Cécile's head after the revelation of her and Danceny's love?
(a) Seeing Danceny in secret.
(b) Shifting her desire to Valmont.
(c) Becoming a nun.
(d) Running away with Danceny.

12. What does the author of the Editor's Preface claim he has done?
(a) Translated these letters from another language into French.
(b) Written the story of his own group of friends into the form of letters.
(c) Collected and organized real letters, and provided occasional notes.
(d) Written all the letters himself, from the perspective of fictional characters.

13. In letter 5, how does Merteuil react to Valmont's object of desire?
(a) She is incredulous and mocking.
(b) She places absolute faith in Valmont.
(c) She expresses doubts as to his capability.
(d) She encourages his plan of seduction.

14. How does Valmont spy on Madame de Tourvel?
(a) He peeps through the keyhole of her room.
(b) He climbs a balcony to look through her window.
(c) He uses a listening device in the room next to hers.
(d) He hides behind a tapestry in her room.

15. What does Merteuil tell Cécile when they attend the opera together?
(a) It is perfectly acceptable to have many lovers at once.
(b) On her wedding night, a young woman must be prepared for certain things.
(c) Marriage is a futile institution that oppresses women.
(d) When a woman marries, she must love only her husband.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Madame de Tourvel offer Valmont?

2. To whom does the Marquise de Merteuil confide her plots?

3. How does Valmont force Madame de Tourvel's maid to help with his plans?

4. How does Valmont act toward Madame de Tourvel, as reported in letter 11?

5. How does Valmont make sure that Madame de Tourvel will read his first letter?

(see the answer keys)

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