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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 event causes Dr. Blau to leave before discovering the secret preservation techniques?
(a) Mole's widow makes a pass at him.
(b) Badger's widow makes a pass at him.
(c) Rat's widow makes a pass at him.
(d) Toad's widow makes a pass at him.

2. One vignette focuses on a ruler from Istanbul who rounds up what kinds of stray animals and puts them on an island?
(a) Pigeons.
(b) Cats.
(c) Dogs.
(d) Parrots.

3. The university attended by the narrator had previously served as an outpost for what group?
(a) The Hare Krishna.
(b) The Sons of Norway.
(c) The S.S.
(d) The Hitler Youth.

4. The narrator compares herself to what part of the body while discussing her role as a writer?
(a) A nose.
(b) An ear.
(c) An arm.
(d) A leg.

5. What are the categories of television identified by the narrator when she has insomnia?
(a) Pornography, religion, violence, and politics.
(b) Pornography, religion, and violence.
(c) Pornography and religion.
(d) Pornography, religion, violence, politics, and entertainment.

Short Answer Questions

1. What emotion does Dr. Blau see when he looks into the man's eyes who also hopes to discover preservation secrets?

2. The two businessmen sitting next to the narrator are traveling to a conference on what subject?

3. The narrator deems her friend who does not like to travel alone to be a bad what?

4. What type of receptacle is featured in the vignette about the collection of oddities?

5. The ruler at the center of two vignettes decides to bring only which members of his family along during his escape?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is ironic about Blau's "unproblematic" (133) romantic life prior to his marriage?

2. What does the narrator announce as the aim of each one of her pilgrimages?

3. What discordant image is at the center of the vignette entitled "Cleopatras"?

4. What type of metaphor does Tokarczuk use to describe the river near her childhood home and why?

5. Describe Blau's feelings about the discipline of medicine.

6. What coping mechanism does Kunicki primarily use to deal with the stress of his missing wife and son?

7. How is personification used to underscore the deep love Blau has for the study of anatomy?

8. How does the theme of deception arise within Blau's visit to Mrs. Mole's home?

9. What are the narrator's feelings about guidebooks?

10. What is the message contained within the vignette entitled "Travel Sizes"?

(see the answer keys)

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