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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. What does Mirek say about Zdena's age?
(a) That she is older than he is.
(b) That they are the same age.
(c) That she is much younger than he is.
(d) That she has never told him her age.

2. How does Mirek feel about Zdena's advice?
(a) He has no opinion until he checks things out.
(b) He thinks it is bad advice.
(c) He thinks she is right and trusts her to tell him the truth.
(d) He does not trust it.

3. Why do Michelle and Gabrielle start to cry?
(a) They fall when trying to dance.
(b) They are kicked.
(c) They get in the way of some falling debris.
(d) They are laughed at.

4. Why does Mama get embarrassed?
(a) The others think the poem is incomprehensible.
(b) Because Marketa corrects her.
(c) The others think the poem is dumb.
(d) Because Karel corrects her.

5. Why does Marketa begin to write her mother-in-law?
(a) Out of the need for money.
(b) To be polite and reply to her mother-in-law's letters.
(c) There is no particular reason.
(d) Out of sympathy.

Short Answer Questions

1. With what does Mirek profess to be entranced as far as Zdena is concerned?

2. Who addresses the Czech people?

3. What might the person fired have lost?

4. Why do Michelle and Gabrielle break out in laughter?

5. When did Mama learn the poem?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why do you think Kundera agrees to write an astrology column?

2. Why does Kundera quit dancing and what does he imagine about the dancing? Of what do you think his imagining about the dancing is symbolic?

3. What is upsetting about Mama's visit and why doesn't Marketa do anything about it?

4. What are Michelle and Gabrielle doing and what is their response?

5. How would the relationship between Marketa and Karel change if Marketa cheats on him with Eva and her husband?

6. What is the difference between how Mama views memory versus how Karel and Marketa do?

7. How is the fur hat symbolic?

8. What is the larger meaning of the letters which Mirek is supposedly seeking to have back?

9. Why do you think Marketa asks Eva to pretend she is Marketa's cousin?

10. What is remembered about Clementis?

(see the answer keys)

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