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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. When the man tells stories about his "philanderings," what is he talking about (5)?
(a) Casual sexual relationships.
(b) Donations to charity.
(c) Getting very drunk with friends.
(d) Stamp collecting.

2. Who wrote the book that Ivanovich opens on the train?
(a) De Viau.
(b) Goethe.
(c) Donne.
(d) Tiutchev.

3. What description does the narrator give of the train car on page 5?
(a) It is "unmistakably third-class."
(b) It "echoes like a tin box."
(c) It "reeks of holiday revelry."
(d) It is "cattle-car bare."

4. When Ivanovich falls asleep on the third day of the tour, how do the others wake him up?
(a) By slapping him.
(b) By singing loudly in his ear.
(c) By pouring water on him.
(d) By throwing a sausage at him.

5. What does Ivanovich do when he first sees the view of the lake?
(a) Falls to his knees.
(b) Gasps aloud.
(c) Begins to weep.
(d) Presses his hand to his heart.

Short Answer Questions

1. In the phrase "several people, alas, were taking part in the excursion," what is the word "alas" meant to convey (4)?

2. What does Ivanovich enjoy reading?

3. What is unusual about the four people who work together?

4. How late is Ivanovich running on the morning the tour leaves?

5. What is Ivanovich expected to carry during the second day of the tour?

Short Essay Questions

1. For what two reasons does Ivanovich sleep badly on the night before the trip begins?

2. What kinds of things does Ivanovich feel passion for, and what kinds of things does he dislike?

3. On the third day of the tour, what does Ivanovich see that makes him feel the happiness he dreamed he might find on the trip?

4. How does Ivanovich end up losing the game that they play on the train, and what happens as a consequence?

5. What is frustrating for Ivanovich about the beauty in the landscapes he sees from the train?

6. What does Ivanovich do at each of the train stations on the first day of the trip, and what does this show about his character?

7. What does Ivanovich do as soon as he sits down in the train on the first morning of the trip, and what is the group's reaction?

8. What direct characterization of Ivanovich does the narrator offer?

9. Why does Ivanovich try to avoid singing the songs, and what happens when he is only pretending to sing?

10. Describe the game that the passengers come up with to play on the train.

(see the answer keys)

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