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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is the secret sin of the running priest?
(a) He embezzled money from the church coffers.
(b) He murdered a policeman who was about to arrest him.
(c) He fathered a child with one of his parishioners.
(d) He is addicted to heroin.

2. How does Captain Fellows refuse the priest's request for brandy?
(a) He tells him the police confiscated all his liquour.
(b) He says that they never keep alcohol on the place.
(c) He tells him no because he is breaking the law enough as it is.
(d) He tells him that brandy is too expensive to share.

3. What announcement is made as the priest and the beverage seller are having a glass of wine?
(a) The hotel owner warns of an coming storm.
(b) The hotel owner enters and says that the Chief of Police is coming.
(c) The hotel owner announces that his rates have just gone up.
(d) The hotel owner says they cannot drink in his establishment.

4. When they stop at a small hut, why does the priest not sleep?
(a) The mestizo snores loudly and keeps waking him up.
(b) He keeps on listening for the soldier and the police.
(c) The priest is very suspicious of the mestizo man and forces himself to stay awake.
(d) There are too many mosquitos and he cannot sleep.

5. What does the mestizo tell the priest?
(a) That he wants the priest to help him catch the American.
(b) That he is going to Carmen, too, and suggests that they go together.
(c) That he needs a guide to help him get to Carmen.
(d) That he wants to get to know him better.

Short Answer Questions

1. How does Greene set up the scene to show the despair of Father José?

2. For what is the American wanted?

3. Where do they think the priest may have gone?

4. What does the priest think would be the result of his leaving?

5. What does Captain Fellows learn about the policeman?

Short Essay Questions

1. The mother who reads religious stories to her children is important in the story. How does Greene use this family to punctuate the fact that the common people want the Church returned?

2. What is the conversation like inside Mr. Trench's house?

3. Just as the mass is concluding, what occurs in the village?

4. Describe the characters of the Police Chief and the lieutenant as seen in the cantina.

5. What does Greene reveal about the priest in his thoughts on his way home?

6. Describe the condition of Father José at that time.

7. Describe the general situation as the novel opens.

8. Coral Fellows presents a reaction to the lieutenant. Describe the conversation with her father.

9. As the lieutenant walks through the town, what indicates that he is the main antagonist in the novel?

10. Back at the banana plantation, how does Greene emphasize the character of Coral Fellows?

(see the answer keys)

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