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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which is not a part of the Rule Abelard describes to Heloise in Letter 8?
(a) The life of continence.
(b) The life of prayer.
(c) The life of poverty.
(d) The life of silence.

2. What does Abelard say he is correcting with the life of silence?
(a) Guilt.
(b) Dependency on the world.
(c) Excess of sin.
(d) Excess of words.

3. When was letter 9 likely written?
(a) 1181.
(b) 1140.
(c) 1164.
(d) 1158.

4. What does Abelard say nuns should study?
(a) Religion.
(b) Scripture.
(c) Government.
(d) History.

5. What request of Heloise's does Abelard fail to fulfill in Letter 7?
(a) Her request for an end to his sufferings.
(b) Her request for a history of his experience.
(c) Her request for a reason to keep suffering.
(d) Her request for a rule.

6. What was Heloise's response to Peter the Venerable's letter?
(a) Pride.
(b) Nostalgia.
(c) Envy.
(d) Shame.

7. Whom does Abelard say Jesus honored?
(a) Widows.
(b) Virgins.
(c) Prostitutes.
(d) Serving women.

8. Why does Heloise argue for special dispensations?
(a) Monastic life was designed for ascetics, not for everyone.
(b) She does not want certain nuns to be sent away from the convent.
(c) Monastic life should not be imposed on people who will only fail at it.
(d) Not everyone can emulate the sufferings of Christ the same way.

9. What did the sender of Letter 9 ask from his correspondent?
(a) Compensate Abelard for his sufferings.
(b) Stop persecuting Abelard.
(c) Let Abelard live in Cluny.
(d) Punish Abelard's persecutors.

10. What reason does the sender give for writing Letter 9?
(a) He is looking for support for Abelard.
(b) He is writing on Abelard's behalf.
(c) He is looking for contributions for Abelard.
(d) He is preparing Abelard's case.

11. When was Abelard with Peter the Venerable?
(a) In the last years of Abelard's life.
(b) In his pilgrimage through Abelard's monastery.
(c) In Peter the Venerable's travels.
(d) In Abelard's travels.

12. What does Abelard rely on in providing a rule for the lives of the nuns at Paraclete?
(a) His monastery's practices.
(b) Ancient practices.
(c) Different religions' monastic practices.
(d) Scripture.

13. Why did Peter the Venerable send Abelard away?
(a) To instruct monks.
(b) To find a safe refuge.
(c) To have an operation.
(d) To recuperate.

14. What does Abelard say in Letter 7 about the virtue of women?
(a) It is the same as men's virtues.
(b) It is useful for different things in religion.
(c) It is only appropriate for certain things.
(d) It is more pleasing to God.

15. For what did Heloise ask Peter the Venerable in her response?
(a) A sealed document containing Abelard's absolution.
(b) A record of Abelard's last days.
(c) A certificate of Abelard's death.
(d) A letter to the pope on Abelard's behalf.

Short Answer Questions

1. What step did the sender recommend Abelard to take to change his position?

2. What does Heloise say in Letter 6 that she cannot make herself do?

3. What was the thing based on that Heloise asked Abelard to give her?

4. How does Abelard define poverty?

5. How does Abelard say errors should be corrected?

(see the answer keys)

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