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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Why is revolution an exciting prospect to young people?
(a) They can act without consequences.
(b) They are able to destroy their fathers' world.
(c) It provides the excitement they crave.
(d) It gives them an outlet for violent and sexual cravings.

2. 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.

3. According to Kundera, what is "the first precondition of freedom" (Part III, Chapter 18, pg 121)?
(a) Being able to love without guilt.
(b) Never having children.
(c) Never having parents.
(d) Losing parents in death.

4. What does the theme of the long poem reveal about Jaromil's thoughts?
(a) He is afraid he will never find true love.
(b) He is obsessed with a woman's body.
(c) He longs for death.
(d) He is afraid of a woman's body.

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

6. Who was Jaromil's first and greatest friend?
(a) His grandpa.
(b) His friend, the janitor's son.
(c) His dog, Alik.
(d) His dad.

7. What is the primary reason that Xavier runs into danger ahead of his comrades?
(a) He would rather die in battle as die an old man.
(b) He wants to make up for losing the list that they wanted.
(c) He wants to live in the exciting aura of death.
(d) He wants to show them that he is a man and worthy of their friendship.

8. To what does Jaromil poetically compare Magda?
(a) Ice and cruelty.
(b) Fire and passion.
(c) Water and sorrow.
(d) Earth and stability.

9. Why does Jaromil walk through the world with a feeling of guilt?
(a) Because he is not living life to the fullest.
(b) Because he is not loyal to the principles that his father died for.
(c) Because he leaves Maman at home alone.
(d) Because he betrayed the only love of his life.

10. What justification does Maman give herself for her initial infidelity?
(a) Lust.
(b) Sadness.
(c) Anger.
(d) Innocence.

11. To Jaromil, what determines a woman's beauty?
(a) Her body.
(b) Her face.
(c) Her spirit.
(d) Her hands.

12. What do Jaromil's classmates find most irritating about him?
(a) He received more Christmas presents than any of them did.
(b) He has more money than they do.
(c) Mother love clings to everything he has.
(d) He does not join in any of their games.

13. How does Maman view her love for the young engineer?
(a) As a passing fling.
(b) As the preface for the love for her child.
(c) As her life's consuming passion.
(d) As a revolt against her parents' prosaic lives.

14. Why does the brunette leave Prague?
(a) She is getting married.
(b) She is involved in underground activities and must flee.
(c) She does not want to face Jaromil.
(d) She is afraid of rioting in the city.

15. What does Jaromil draw during his first lesson in the artist's studio?
(a) Circles.
(b) Human faces.
(c) Lines.
(d) Humans with dogs' heads.

Short Answer Questions

1. After the debate in the artist's apartment, how does Jaromil know he is no longer welcome there?

2. Why does Maman push away her husband's hand when he wants to make love?

3. What pleased the artist the most about Jaromil's drawings?

4. When do Jaromil's parents redecorate his room?

5. According to Kundera, what is "tenderness"?

(see the answer keys)

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