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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) The poets are professional and know what the questions will be.
(c) No one knows how to begin.
(d) No one cares about the poems enough to ask questions.

2. What disguise does Jaromil use for treating the redhead with cruelty?
(a) Anger at Maman.
(b) Wounded love.
(c) Concern for their relationship.
(d) Concern for the girl.

3. How does the film begin?
(a) With Jaromil reciting his most famous poem.
(b) With Maman recounting childhood memories with Jaromil.
(c) With pictures of Jaromil as a child.
(d) With a home recording of Jaromil as a child.

4. Who was the first man the redheaded girl slept with?
(a) An older man in her village.
(b) A fellow student at the university.
(c) A middle-aged man in the city.
(d) A childhood friend.

5. During the filming, how does Maman push Jaromil back into the role of a young child?
(a) By telling embarrassing stories of his childhood.
(b) By reminding him of immature ideas he used to believe.
(c) By calling him pet names.
(d) By calling him her little troublemaker.

6. What happens when a classmate asks Jaromil about the redhead?
(a) He replies that she is a casual acquaintance.
(b) He replies that she is his cousin.
(c) He refuses to answer the question, out of embarrassment.
(d) He replies that she is the love of his life.

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

8. Why was Maman initially pleased to think about meeting Jaromil's girlfriend?
(a) She wanted to make peace with Jaromil by meeting his girlfriend.
(b) She had told the downstairs tenant that her family would need the entire upper floor.
(c) She wanted to befriend the redhead so she could control Jaromil more.
(d) She thought perhaps she could make a friend.

9. When does Jaromil feel that the girl belongs to him completely?
(a) When she swears to love him forever.
(b) When he writes a poem about her.
(c) When she lets him undress her.
(d) When his hands are around her neck.

10. How does Jaromil feel after talking to the police about the redhead's brother?
(a) Afraid for the train of events he has started.
(b) Confident and more decisive.
(c) Emotionally shaken.
(d) Eager to help the state.

11. How long has it been since the middle-aged man saw the girl who rang his doorbell?
(a) One year.
(b) Eight years.
(c) Three years.
(d) Three months.

12. 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) She receives letters from a man he does not know.
(d) Because her doctor sees her body.

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

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

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

Short Answer Questions

1. Symbolically, what role does Maman want to play in Jaromil's life?

2. To Jaromil, what does Xavier represent?

3. Returning home from the police station, what does Jaromil find?

4. According to Jaromil, how do socialism and love interact?

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

(see the answer keys)

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