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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does the redhead claim that she did when she had a doctor's appointment?
(a) Threw away the appointment card and didn't go.
(b) Went to the appointment even though she hated it.
(c) Sent the appointment card back to the doctor.
(d) Burned the appointment card.

2. Why does the lyrical poet make his poetry striking?
(a) His life is uneventful.
(b) Only striking poetry will be accepted by the readers.
(c) His subject matter demands a strong voice.
(d) He speaks out of powerful places in History.

3. During the argument between Jaromil and the party guest, why do the other guests burst out laughing?
(a) Jaromil has punched the party guest in the face.
(b) Jaromil has tripped over a coffee table and fallen.
(c) Jaromil has tripped over a coffee table and fallen.
(d) The party guest has picked up Jaromil by his shirt and pants waist.

4. What kind of verbs does Jaromil love?
(a) Complicated verbs related to the emotions.
(b) Verbs that describe the power of the future.
(c) Verbs that are related to love.
(d) Simple verbs that describe one motion.

5. What does Lermontov assert is the highest quality in life?
(a) Honor.
(b) Loyalty.
(c) Love.
(d) Purity.

6. To Jaromil, what does Xavier represent?
(a) Dream, poetry, and action.
(b) The horror of poetic ambition lived out.
(c) The furthest extent of his dreams.
(d) The man he will one day become.

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

8. Why is Jaromil jealous of the redhead?
(a) She will not tell him where she got the flowers on the table.
(b) He suspects that she is cheating.
(c) Because her doctor sees her body.
(d) She receives letters from a man he does not know.

9. Why does the newspaper editor not want to publish Jaromil's poems?
(a) Jaromil is rude when he asks about the poems he had submitted.
(b) The newspaper gets submissions from a dozen new poets a day.
(c) The editor thinks they are poorly written.
(d) The editor disagrees with Jaromil's Marxist beliefs which are expressed in several poems.

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

11. When does Jaromil's anger toward the girl at last subside?
(a) When he chokes her.
(b) When she cries.
(c) When she begs for his forgiveness.
(d) When he hits her.

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

13. After Jaromil hears about the girl's brother, what action does he want her to take?
(a) Flee the country with him.
(b) Urge her family to stop her brother.
(c) Tell the police.
(d) Persuade her brother not to flee.

14. According to Kundera, why is lyricism immature?
(a) It wants to return to the safety of childhood.
(b) It thinks mostly about mothers and motherhood.
(c) It only writes poems about childhood.
(d) It cannot handle themes of war and death.

15. At the end of Part 6, what sound does Kundera hear?
(a) Jaromil's breath.
(b) The future walking.
(c) The rustle of bedclothes.
(d) Death stamping its feet.

Short Answer Questions

1. When Maman is embarrassed about her dress in front of Jaromil, what does she change into?

2. What is Jaromil's opinion of the redhead's family?

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

4. When Maman returns home early one evening while the redhead is visiting, what does she pretend is happening?

5. What happens when a classmate asks Jaromil about the redhead?

(see the answer keys)

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