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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. An unusual thing about the city is that:
(a) It is famous for its plants and animals.
(b) It has abundant water.
(c) Everybody has a garden.
(d) It has no native plants or animals.

2. How many people have contracted the disease and recovered?
(a) None. All have died.
(b) Forty.
(c) One.
(d) Everone has recovered.

3. What reason does Cottard give for his suicide attempt?
(a) 'A grief observed.'
(b) 'A silent grief.'
(c) 'A secret grief.'
(d) 'A delayed grief.'

4. What is Rieux's attitude to religion and God?
(a) He is not a believer.
(b) He is open to being converted.
(c) He believes religion is all right some of the time.
(d) He believes ardently and attends Mass regularly.

5. In what predicament does Rambert find himself?
(a) He cannot file the news story.
(b) He is afraid to tell anyone he has a fever.
(c) He has missed out on a job as Editor of his paper.
(d) He is trapped in Oran away from his wife.

6. In what important way has the plague changed?
(a) It has changed from pneumonic to bubonic.
(b) It has become much more severe.
(c) It has changed from bubonic to harmonic.
(d) It has changed from bubonic to pneumonic.

7. With what does Rieux contrast pictures of the plague through history?
(a) The tranquil and beautiful spring day.
(b) Cottard's predicament.
(c) Pictures of Oran's parks and gardens.
(d) A photograph of his wife.

8. How does Rieux treat the plague victims?
(a) He injects them with penicillin.
(b) He lances and drains the abscesses.
(c) He applies poultices to the abscesses and makes the people stay indoors.
(d) He can do nothing.

9. What is Rieux worried about?
(a) That the trains will stop running.
(b) That the people will panic.
(c) That the disease will get out of hand and kill half the population.
(d) That the disease will affect his wife.

10. Who preaches the closing sermon at High Mass?
(a) Cardinal Richelieu.
(b) A firebrand Dominican priest.
(c) Fr Paneloux.
(d) The Bishop of Marseilles.

11. In what way is the character similar emotionally to the townspeople?
(a) Both are jubilant.
(b) Both are despondent.
(c) Both are indifferent to the world.
(d) Both are cynical.

12. Why hasn't M. Grand been able to correct the mistake made about his promotion?
(a) He cannot find the time.
(b) The authorities will not allow him to do this.
(c) He cannot find his application form.
(d) He cannot find the right words.

13. What human attitude concerns Rieux?
(a) Human prejudice and warmongering.
(b) Humans' inability to accept reality.
(c) Humans' quick acceptance of reality.
(d) Human infallibility.

14. What important meeting takes place?
(a) The Prefect meets a committee of concerned citizens.
(b) The Prefect meets Dr. Rieux's wife.
(c) The Prefect meets with ratcatchers.
(d) The Prefect meets a committee of doctors.

15. In what country is the story set?
(a) France.
(b) Algeria.
(c) Armenia.
(d) Nigeria.

Short Answer Questions

1. By what means do influential town leaders hope to resist the plague?

2. In what city is the story set?

3. This chapter focuses on which character in the novel?

4. What is M. Grand's job?

5. Who is Jean Tarrou?

(see the answer keys)

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