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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is Pahom's first reaction when he learns that people are moving to a new settlement?
(a) He worries that there will not be enough workers for his land.
(b) He thinks that maybe he can buy their land.
(c) He tries to get their share of the commune lands.
(d) He wants to sell his land and move.

2. How does Pahom's wife defend their life to her sister?
(a) She says that their life is quiet and ordinary.
(b) She says that someday Pahom will make them rich.
(c) She says that their life is steady and safe.
(d) She says that living in the countryside is more moral.

3. What reaction do the peasants have when they hear rumors about the sale of the land?
(a) They decide that they need to buy it themselves.
(b) They beg the woman not to sell her land.
(c) They go to court to try to add the land to the commune.
(d) They celebrate, because they do not like the landowner.

4. The story opens with two sisters. What does the older sister's husband do for a living?
(a) He is a tradesman.
(b) He is a farmer.
(c) He is a commune leader.
(d) He is an innkeeper.

5. Whom does Pahom accuse of stripping his trees?
(a) The innkeeper.
(b) His brother-in-law.
(c) Simon.
(d) The head of the commune.

6. Who is the first person that the local landowner offers to sell her land to?
(a) The innkeeper.
(b) Pahom.
(c) Simon.
(d) The leader of the commune.

7. Why does Pahom end up taking his neighbors to court?
(a) The refuse to pay him the rent that they owe him.
(b) They steal his crops.
(c) Their animals trespass on his land.
(d) They disagree about the boundary of his land.

8. What does Pahom's wife say may happen to a man in town?
(a) He may be the victim of crime.
(b) He may die of stress.
(c) He may be tempted by the devil.
(d) He may become lazy.

9. How far does Pahom walk in order to get to the new settlement?
(a) 30 miles.
(b) 130 miles.
(c) 300 miles.
(d) 3 miles.

10. Which character thinks that "Busy as we are from childhood tilling Mother Earth, we peasants have no time to let any nonsense settle in our heads"?
(a) Simon.
(b) Pahom's sister-in-law.
(c) Pahom.
(d) Pahom's wife.

11. What does the expression "racked his brains" mean?
(a) Felt very sad.
(b) Organized his thoughts.
(c) Searched hard for an answer.
(d) Stared into space without thinking.

12. How many acres does the local landowner have?
(a) 13,000.
(b) 1,300.
(c) 40.
(d) 300.

13. How many acres does Pahom buy in his first land purchase?
(a) 40.
(b) 300.
(c) 1,300.
(d) 13,000.

14. What is Pahom's reaction to the trouble with the steward?
(a) He refuses to have any more dealings with the man.
(b) He takes the steward to court.
(c) He insists that the family move to a new settlement.
(d) He takes his anger out on his family.

15. Which character thinks "I'll give you land enough; and by means of that land I will get you into my power"?
(a) Simon.
(b) Pahom's brother-in-law.
(c) The local landowner.
(d) The devil.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does the older sister brag about?

2. What does Pahom do when the court rules against him?

3. In which situation might someone "grease your palm"?

4. What agreement does Pahom come to with the landowner?

5. What bothers Pahom the most about the stripping of bark from his trees?

(see the answer keys)

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