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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How does Kekesfalva plan to repay Hofmiller for talking to Dr. Condor for him?
(a) He says he'll allow Hofmiller to court Edith.
(b) He plans to pay Hofmiller the equivalent of a week's salary.
(c) He says he'll introduce Hofmiller to high-ranking officials.
(d) He offers Hofmiller his own suite of rooms at the castle.

2. Why do Hofmiller and Kekesfalva end their conversation about the potential new cure for Edith?
(a) Kekesfalva leaves because it begins to rain.
(b) Hofmiller's friends arrive to take him out for a drink.
(c) Hofmiller gets an urgent message from his commanding officer.
(d) Kekesfalva gets a message that Edith has become ill.

3. Why does Kekesfalva ask Hofmiller to be present when Dr. Condor comes to the castle and speak to him about Edith's condition?
(a) Kekesfalva wants Dr. Condor to give up his other patients and devote all his time to Edith, and he wants Hofmiller to ask how much he'd expect to be paid to do that.
(b) Hofmiller tells Kekesfalva he is experiencing severe back pain and Kekesfalva thinks Dr. Condor might be able to help.
(c) Kekesfalva wants to fire Dr. Condor from Edith's case but wants to avoid confronting him, so he asks Hofmiller to do it.
(d) Kekesfalva isn't sure Dr. Condor is being completely honest with him about Edith's condition and chances for improvement.

4. Why does Edith keep secret pictures of dancers?
(a) She sells them to make extra money.
(b) Her father doesn't approve of the pictures, so she keeps them hidden.
(c) She loved dancing before her accident.
(d) She hopes to become an artist.

5. What pretense did Kekesfalva use for coming to the house to talk with Dietzenhof?
(a) He posed as an attorney.
(b) He pretended to be a real estate agent.
(c) He posed as an insurance agent.
(d) He pretended to be a gardener.

6. Why does Edith not dance with Hofmiller?
(a) She is too shy.
(b) She is disabled and can't use her legs.
(c) Her father doesn't allow her to dance.
(d) Her boyfriend doesn't want her to dance with another man.

7. How does Edith find out that Hofmiller had been playing cards rather than inspecting a horse when he failed to show up at the castle?
(a) She sends her chauffeur to find out where he is.
(b) She asks his commanding officer and he tells her the truth.
(c) Her father calls his barracks and someone tells him where Hofmiller is.
(d) Hofmiller admits it to her.

8. What is Kekesfalva's reaction when Hofmiller mentions the new treatment that might help Edith?
(a) He begins peppering Hofmiller with questions.
(b) He dismisses the information because it doesn't sound promising.
(c) He begins to brighten up at the possibility of hope for Edith.
(d) He calls Dr. Condor immediately to get more information.

9. Hofmiller realizes that during all his visits to the castle, he has failed to ask what he considers the most natural of questions. What is the question?
(a) Is Edith's condition permanent or is there hope for a cure?
(b) How did Kekesfalva become so wealthy?
(c) How did Edith become crippled?
(d) Why does Ilona live with Kekesfalva and Edith?

10. How does Ilona initially react to seeing Hofmiller in the street after he does not appear for dinner as has become his custom?
(a) She is delighted to see him and greets him warmly and affectionately.
(b) She ignores him and begins to flirt with his friends.
(c) She asks him to take her out for a drink.
(d) She says she's in a hurry and tries to rush away from him.

11. After they are alone following dinner at the castle, what does Dr. Condor tell Hofmiller he finds frustrating about Kekesfalva?
(a) He doesn't seem to respect Dr. Condor's medical opinions.
(b) He doesn't seem to take an interest in Edith's condition.
(c) He pesters him constantly about Edith, asking the same questions over and over.
(d) When Dr. Condor arrives for appointments, Kekesfalva often isn't there.

12. What aspect of Hofmiller's background makes him especially grateful for the warm welcome he continues to receive at the Kekesfalva's home?
(a) He has been raised in an orphanage, so he begins to think of Kekesfalva as a father figure.
(b) His parents are servants of a wealthy family, so he likes turning the tables by having servants wait on him.
(c) He has been brought up in a wealthy home, so he feels comfortable and at ease with the family's wealth.
(d) He has been brought up in military institutions, so he loves the homey feeling of their house and family.

13. After Dietzenhof completed the sale of the property without realizing Kekesfalva was the actual buyer, what caused him to begin to feel guilty about taking advantage of her?
(a) She said she needed as much money as she could get to take care of her disabled child.
(b) She began to suspect that he had tricked her.
(c) She told him how often other people had taken advantage of her.
(d) She offered to pay him for all his help.

14. After asking Hofmiller to talk to Dr. Condor about Edith, why does Kekesfalva want to rush back to the house?
(a) He is expecting other guests and needs to get back in time to greet them.
(b) Edith has not been feeling well and he doesn't want to leave her alone too long.
(c) He doesn't want to be late for dinner.
(d) He is afraid Edith will be suspicious about what they'd been talking about.

15. What does Dr. Condor tell Hofmiller about the contraptions and treatments he has been providing for Edith?
(a) He says they have not been helpful, but he continues using them because they give the family hope.
(b) He confesses that their main purpose is to enable him to continue billing Kekesfalva large sums of money.
(c) He says they are helping Edith make steady progress.
(d) He says they have not helped yet, but he is confident that they will lead to a cure eventually.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Kekesfalva tell Hofmiller about Dr. Condor's marriage?

2. According to the book's introduction by Joan Acocella, why was the author, Stefan Zweig, so interested in the inner workings of the human mind?

3. Why does Hofmiller go to Kekesfalva's home three days before the date of his dinner invitation?

4. How does Edith react when Hofmiller asks her to dance?

5. How does Dr. Condor perceive that Edith's attitude seems to have changed?

(see the answer keys)

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