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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. Where is Zakopane?
(a) In the Tatras Mountains.
(b) In the Alps.
(c) In the Ural Mountains.
(d) In the Rocky Mountains.

2. When she is a child, what is one thing Maryna wants to grow up to be?
(a) A pilot.
(b) A soldier.
(c) A chef.
(d) A doctor.

3. What happens to the Schobert family of Henryk's story?
(a) They all die, except a three year old, of poisoning.
(b) They all move to Brook Farm.
(c) They all die on the way to California.
(d) They all survive a stomach flu.

4. What people does Ryszard find to be the most polite people in New York?
(a) African Americans.
(b) Chinese.
(c) Italians.
(d) British.

5. What does Ryszard give to Maryna after her performance?
(a) A bouquet of peonies.
(b) A bouquet of roses.
(c) A bouquet of orchids.
(d) A bouquet of silk flowers.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the name of Maryna's personal assistant?

2. What do the Countess, Bogdan, and Maryna drink on their farewell visit?

3. What announcement did Maryna wish she had made at the party?

4. What is Nipu?

5. What are some of the things Maryna, Aniela, and Piotr see on their excursion from New York?

Short Essay Questions

1. Maryna explains to Henryk why they are traveling to California by ship. What are the reasons? What is the faster way to get to California from New York? How does the trip go?

2. While Maryna and her husband are busy selling their house and preparing to leave for America, a member of Maryna's family dies. Who is this person, and why is the death so upsetting for Maryna? Who else is present at the death? Where does Maryna go after the death?

3. How do the Saloon passengers gain entry into America? How do the steerage passengers leave the ship? How do Julian and Ryszard leave the ship, and where do they go?

4. On his passage to America, Ryszard spends time listening to English speaking passengers. He meets many Americans. How does he describe the American attitude about their country? How does this differ from the way Ryszard sees himself as a Pole?

5. Who comes into Maryna's dressing room before the performance at the theatre in Krakow? What happens? How does Maryna react to the visitor's behavior?

6. Henryk's farewell gift to Maryna when she leaves for America is a book. What is the title of the book, and what is Maryna's response to the book?

7. In Chapter Four, Maryna explains that in some places, the oldest is best. However, in America she says "biggest is best." What does she mean by this? What does she see that supports her observation? Is she displeased by this?

8. What are some of the toasts given at the celebration dinner table? To whom are they directed? What is Bogdan's toast about? Maryna's?

9. Maryna relates the story of her childhood to various people in Chapter One. Discuss her childhood and the influences on her life.

10. To whom does Maryna write in Chapter Four? Where is she as the letter begins? Where does she go during the course of the letter? Where is she at the end of the letter? Why does the author choose a letter narration in this chapter?

(see the answer keys)

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