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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What error does Rieux think he has made?

2. What is happening across the road from Grand's building?

3. What is Dr. Castel's work?

4. What seems to be an important factor in the reduction of plague deaths?

5. What additional friendship has Tarrou made?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is there a steady supply of workers taking care of burials?

2. Explain the significance of The Plague's final paragraph.

3. What sort of man was Jean Tarrou's father?

4. Do you think Dr. Castel's serum is likely to be of help?

5. How are local printing firms and newspapers able to profit by people's fear of the plague?

6. Which characters now volunteer as plague workers?

7. Has Cottard really gained from his profiteering during the plague?

8. Account for the difference tenor and content of Fr Paneloux's new sermon, compared with that he gave at the conclusion of the Week of Prayer.

9. In what ways do Tarrou's plague symptoms first appear?

10. What choice does Rambert make in Part 4 Chapter 2?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Plague depicts people coping with a terrible crisis. It is concerned with separation and loss. Choose three characters from the novel and discuss the way each of them deals with separation and loss.

Essay Topic 2

'The Plague shows us love, loyalty and heroic selflessness.' Discuss with close reference to three characters.

Essay Topic 3

How important is character in this novel? Explain your views, referring closely to the text and focusing in depth on two characters.

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