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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Why is there silence at the beginning of the question-and-answer time following the recitation?
(a) Everyone is respectfully waiting for the silver-haired poet to speak first.
(b) No one knows how to begin.
(c) The poets are professional and know what the questions will be.
(d) No one cares about the poems enough to ask questions.

2. When Jaromil has difficulty undressing the redhead, what is the girl wearing?
(a) A grey dress with a wide collar.
(b) A dress with small black buttons down the back.
(c) A thin negligee.
(d) A dress with large white buttons down the front.

3. According to one of the party guests, why has Jaromil stopped talking to the artist?
(a) Jaromil's art deserved better instruction than this man could give.
(b) The friendship would have stood in the way of his career.
(c) Jaromil saw that the man was a capitalist discontent.
(d) The artist was involved in spy campaigns.

4. Why is it important to Jaromil that he die by fire?
(a) He thinks fire would be the quickest way to die.
(b) He thinks of himself as a gruesome beacon for the future.
(c) He wants nothing to remain of himself but his poems.
(d) A man's death conveys a message about his life.

5. What is the last thing Jaromil ever sees?
(a) Great fear in his mother's face.
(b) Love in his mother's face.
(c) His hand lying on the quilt.
(d) His father's portrait.

6. In the poem "Epitaph," how does Jaromil wish to die?
(a) By fire.
(b) In the service of Marxism.
(c) By heartbreak to prove his love.
(d) By drowning.

7. What is the redhead's reaction to Jaromil's poetry printed in the newspaper?
(a) She did not understand the poem.
(b) She was thrilled to have a famous boyfriend.
(c) She had not even known he wrote poetry.
(d) She thought he was wasting his time.

8. How old is Jaromil when he catches pneumonia?
(a) Twenty-four.
(b) Twenty-six.
(c) Nineteen.
(d) Twenty.

9. Why does the man work in a factory?
(a) He has always wanted to work with his hands.
(b) He is suspicious of any white-collar job, which is often involved in the unsteady political trends.
(c) The government had decided he was too closely connected to capitalist England.
(d) It was punishment for his anti-Communist writings.

10. Who is most upset that the bus stop was moved two blocks away from the villa?
(a) The pretty cinematographer.
(b) The man with the wooden leg.
(c) The organizer of the poetry recitation.
(d) The middle-aged woman.

11. Why does Jaromil agree to read in the presentation of poets?
(a) He thinks it will finally bring him recognition as a poet.
(b) He will become part of the common people since the literary community rejected him.
(c) He wants to prove that he believes the ideals of communism.
(d) He does not want to make the janitor's son angry.

12. What contest does the party guest suggest to Jaromil?
(a) A contest between a poet and a corpse.
(b) A contest between a mouse and a cat.
(c) A contest between a poet and a policeman.
(d) A contest between an artist and a poet.

13. According to Kundera, who ruled the epoch about which he is writing?
(a) The farmer and the factory worker.
(b) The young people.
(c) The judge and the lawyer.
(d) The hangman and the poet.

14. When Jaromil wants to recite poetry to the redhead, what disturbing thought occurs to him?
(a) He has only written political poems, which she will not understand.
(b) His fame will never surpass that of the famous poet.
(c) The only modern poetry is that which will be understood by a common girl like her.
(d) He has not ever written something of value and purpose.

15. When Maman is embarrassed about her dress in front of Jaromil, what does she change into?
(a) A light purple dress.
(b) A pink dressing gown.
(c) A blue wrapper.
(d) A grey dress.

Short Answer Questions

1. While walking with the redhead one day, whom does Jaromil see?

2. What does the redhead claim that she did when she had a doctor's appointment?

3. How does the film begin?

4. How does Jaromil feel after talking to the police about the redhead's brother?

5. While Jaromil is talking with the redhead about love, how does death enter the conversation?

(see the answer keys)

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