Quiz: Past and Present

10 questions drawn at random. Score 80% for a silver medal.

1. 1. What does Carlyle ironically propose as an improvement on bribery at elections?

   An Election-Office in Downing Street selling seats at a fixed tariff A secret ballot for all voters, as the Chartists demanded Choosing members of Parliament by lot from among the ratepayers Abolishing the House of Commons and governing by royal commission
2. 2. What, according to Carlyle, was the “huge inarticulate question” the Manchester Insurrection put to England?

   “Why should we pay rent to idle landlords?” “Who will give us the Charter?” “Where is the bread the Corn Law promised?” “What do you mean to do with us?”
3. 3. What does the engineer Brindley do when difficulties accumulate on him?

   Consults the Man of Theory and follows his logic Retires to his bed, sometimes for three days, to think them out Writes a long pamphlet explaining his reasoning to the public and the shareholders Goes walking in the hills until the answer comes
4. 4. Which fable does Carlyle use to close his first chapter on England’s “enchanted” wealth?

   Croesus, who was told to call no man happy until he died Tantalus, who could never reach the fruit above him Pandora, who opened the box of evils upon the world Midas, who got his gold and long ears with it
5. 5. According to Sauerteig, what is the “Hell of the English”?

   The fear of being found guilty before the Just Judge at the last day The dread of doing unworthily, as with the old Romans The terror of not succeeding, chiefly of not making money The fear of revolution and the guillotine
6. 6. How did the St Edmundsbury monks prepare their choice of abbot before going to the king?

   Six sworn elders chose three names, sealed in a paper Samson carried The whole convent voted by secret ballot in the chapter-house, the Prior counting the votes The Prior named his own successor, as the custom of the house had long required They asked the Pope’s legate in England to nominate a candidate of his own choosing
7. 7. According to Book IV, which two “vital elements” has no society ever existed without?

   A standing army and a national debt A governing class and a teaching class A free press and an elected parliament Private property and free contract
8. 8. What “widest universal principle” does Carlyle offer as the basis for organising labour?

   Manhood suffrage instead of privilege Free trade instead of protection Piece-work instead of time-wages Permanent contract instead of temporary
9. 9. What did King John leave the convent after staying at St Edmundsbury for about a fortnight?

   A golden crown for St Edmund’s shrine A charter freeing the town and its market from all royal tolls for ever Forty marks of silver to repair the ruined Camera and the cloister Thirteen pence for a mass, and a silk cloak later borrowed back
10. 10. Why does Carlyle call Plugson of Undershot a “Bucanier” rather than a true Captain of Industry?

    He refuses to pay his spinners anything at all once the cloth has been sold He keeps the hundred thousand and dismisses his spinners with their wages He has bought a seat in Parliament and a coat of arms with the profits of his mills He smuggles cotton past the customs officers and so cheats the public revenue