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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. According to the poet's father, where was the poet conceived?
(a) In the apartment of his colleague.
(b) In the countryside near Prague.
(c) On a park bench.
(d) In the mother's apartment.

2. How does Xavier know that there will be no executions the day he hears shots fired?
(a) The list of victims is in his notebook.
(b) He has the list of victims memorized.
(c) He has not yet given the command for anyone to be executed.
(d) Only one family is being targeted.

3. What are the four students singing about while on the train?
(a) A summer storm.
(b) A dead canary.
(c) Their train ride.
(d) The skiing holiday.

4. According to Kundera, what is "tenderness"?
(a) The proper response of a parent to the child.
(b) Treating the woman like a child, for fear of consequences.
(c) The sheltering of a child so that he does not mature.
(d) The affection of the woman for her lover.

5. In Part III, Chapter 19, how does Jaromil get a fever?
(a) He takes a walk around the snowy town without wearing winter clothes.
(b) He sits on a park bench with the university girl.
(c) He stands on the balcony of a girl's apartment in the snow.
(d) He visits the university girl when she is sick.

6. In the philosophy auditorium, what is the subject of the first poem recited?
(a) A father struggles to provide for his family under Communist rule.
(b) A mother turns away her son because he is not committed to Marxist ideals.
(c) A group of university students convert the school to Marxism.
(d) A girl breaks up with her boyfriend because he was lazy on the production line.

7. What happens as Maman sees her son's physicality?
(a) She begins to accept her own physicality.
(b) Her tenderness increases.
(c) She begins to question her sexuality.
(d) She becomes even more revolted by physicality.

8. After the debate in the artist's apartment, how does Jaromil know he is no longer welcome there?
(a) The artist locks the door behind him when he leaves.
(b) The artist gives him a stern look rather than a verbal response.
(c) The artist's guests ignore Jaromil and resume their conversation.
(d) The artist asks him not to come back.

9. In the opinion of Jaromil's uncle, why did the revolution occur?
(a) So that the new era of humanity could begin.
(b) So that the capitalist swine would be overthrown.
(c) So the Communists could seize what little power they did not already have.
(d) So the Communists could finally become a powerful political party.

10. How is the university girl different from any other girl Jaromil has known?
(a) She gives him complete liberty with her body.
(b) She barely lets him touch her.
(c) She does not want him to meet her family.
(d) She only lets him kiss her when no one else is around.

11. Part 4, Chapter 1 begins with an anecdote about which poet?
(a) Jaromil.
(b) Valery.
(c) Lermontov.
(d) Rimbaud.

12. What is Jaromil's first long poem about?
(a) A man who suddenly realizes he is old.
(b) The tragedy of love that is realized too late.
(c) Death that comes early for a young man.
(d) Young lovers who are reunited.

13. On the train, why does Xavier avoid his Latin professor?
(a) His Latin professor does not like him.
(b) He thinks the Latin professor will yell at him for missing class.
(c) He failed Latin class the first time he took it.
(d) He has not been to class in a long time.

14. What was the dramatic action that led to the kiss between Jaromil and the university girl?
(a) The police light flashing through the trees.
(b) The girl dropping her briefcase.
(c) Running from the police.
(d) Jaromil falling off the porch steps.

15. What does Xavier find most compelling about the woman in the house?
(a) Her eyes.
(b) Her hands.
(c) Her hair.
(d) Her breasts.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why does Maman weep as the artist makes love to her?

2. In looking at the Apollo statue, what does Maman hope?

3. How does Maman view her love for the young engineer?

4. Why is Jaromil especially proud of the slogan "No churches"?

5. Why do Jaromil's drawings favor dogs?

(see the answer keys)

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