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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. As the novel opens, what is the condition of the weather?
(a) a clear, starry night.
(b) a dust storm.
(c) a snow storm.
(d) a rainstorm.

2. Who is the former shepherd from near Plassans whose patron sent him to Paris?
(a) Chaîne.
(b) Dubuche.
(c) Mahoudeau.
(d) Malgras.

3. What works are shown in the Salon des Refusés?
(a) those eligible for special prizes.
(b) those refused for the regular Salon showing.
(c) those too good to go in the regular Salon.
(d) those from unknown artists.

4. What is it about Claude's use of colors that Christine has difficulty understanding?
(a) people with purple skin.
(b) blue in the poplar trees and mauve in the ground.
(c) red bananas and yellow apples.
(d) yellow skies and pink clouds.

5. What is Jory's excuse for not writing about anyone in the group?
(a) he is waiting to spring them on the public later.
(b) he is being paid to write only about Beauz-Arts artists.
(c) they are unpopular and he is not writing for his own paper.
(d) he thinks his endorsement would hurt them.

Short Answer Questions

1. Where does Claude go for a cheap lunch?

2. How is Claude received at Duquersonnièr's studio?

3. How does Zola describe Irma Bécot?

4. What does Claude do the next morning as the young woman sleeps?

5. Who does Jory insist that Claude go with him to see?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens when Sandoz takes Claude back to visit the country where he once lived?

2. How does Zola show that the young woman is a proper young lady and not a trollop as Claude suspects?

3. How does Claude attempt to make Christine happy once again?

4. Describe the mood at the beginning of the novel.

5. Describe Claude's continuing struggle to be accepted by the art circles in Paris.

6. How does Fagerolles manage to get Claude's painting of the Dead Child included in the Salon proper?

7. When Claude finally locates his painting, how does he once again feel rejected?

8. What is the showdown between Christine and the nude woman in Claude's painting?

9. How does Claude exhibit manic behavior during the night?

10. How does the behavior of Dubuche foreshadow the deterioration of the Open Air group of young Bohemian artists?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 908 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample