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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What should nuns primarily think about, according to Abelard?
(a) The inner life.
(b) The history of God and the church.
(c) The nature of God.
(d) God's relationship to man.

2. What does Abelard say life becomes in poverty?
(a) A resource.
(b) A common store.
(c) A firm law.
(d) A community.

3. How had Abelard handled the sender of Letter 9's recommendation?
(a) He already acted on it.
(b) He had not responded.
(c) He refused it.
(d) He said he would take it.

4. What did Abelard do right before he died?
(a) Declare his love to Heloise.
(b) Write to Peter the Venerable.
(c) Write to the pope.
(d) Profess his faith.

5. What does Abelard say was honored by St. Paul and St. Jerome?
(a) Widowhood.
(b) Virginity
(c) Prostitution.
(d) Motherhood

6. What did the sender of Letter 9 advise Abelard to do?
(a) Flee the country.
(b) Appeal to the pope.
(c) Gather supporters.
(d) Get a judgment from the Abbot of Citeaux.

7. What does Abelard mean to indicate by the example of the Sibyl's prophecies?
(a) Women who paid a price for falling away from priesthood.
(b) Honored women in antiquity.
(c) Women honored among Gentiles.
(d) Women who implemented church doctrine.

8. What does Heloise say in Letter 6 that she cannot make herself do?
(a) Obey Abelard.
(b) Seek God.
(c) Pray.
(d) Beg for forgiveness.

9. How does Abelard define poverty?
(a) Lack of property.
(b) Wealth in divine possessions.
(c) Refusal to own property.
(d) Wisdom.

10. How does Heloise say that the thing that pleases God is manifested?
(a) The same in everyone.
(b) Differently in different people.
(c) In each according to his weakness.
(d) In each according to his talents.

11. What qualities must distinguish an Abbess, in Abelard's opinion?
(a) Broad life experience.
(b) Lifelong chastity.
(c) Management experience.
(d) Learning and teaching.

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

13. What does Peter the Venerable say he admires?
(a) Heloise's contrition.
(b) Heloise's piety.
(c) Heloise's writings.
(d) Heloise's background.

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

15. How many nuns are needed to run a convent, according to Abelard?
(a) One.
(b) Five.
(c) Seven.
(d) Three.

Short Answer Questions

1. What did Abelard do in the place Peter the Venerable sent him?

2. What does Abelard say in Letter 7 about the virtue of women?

3. What news about Abelard does the sender of Letter 9 relate?

4. To what does Abelard respond at first in Letter 7?

5. Who does Heloise say in Letter 6 Abelard should imitate?

(see the answer keys)

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