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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

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

2. Why is Jaromil filled with pride after sleeping with the redhead girl?
(a) She thinks he is experienced.
(b) She does not ask questions about his inexperience.
(c) She is strikingly beautiful.
(d) She relieved him of his virginity.

3. What does Jaromil do when the redhead catches him staring through her apartment window?
(a) Keeps staring unabashedly.
(b) Runs away.
(c) Brings her flowers.
(d) Knocks on her door.

4. What distinctive piece of clothing does the old woman wear when she dances with Xavier?
(a) A purple blouse.
(b) A dark blue dress.
(c) A dark red sweater.
(d) A yellow dress.

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

Short Answer Questions

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

2. Why is 1949 an interesting year for Czech youth?

3. In the philosophy auditorium, what is the subject of the first poem recited?

4. What does Jaromil write in his diary about the night he was supposed to lose his virginity?

5. According to the poet's father, where was the poet conceived?

Short Essay Questions

1. When Jaromil returns at midnight after walking the university girl home, Maman becomes hysterical because she was worried about him. What does this scene show about these two people's perception of love?

2. When the Communists stage a coup, Jaromil and his uncle fight about the justice of the action. What does this fight reveal about Jaromil's place in the world, particularly in the political realm?

3. How does the artist's concept of an "inner world" (Part 1, Chapter 6, pg 30) dramatically change Jaromil's character?

4. Why is Maman angry at Jaromil because of her love life? Is her anger justified?

5. When the artist explains the red and brown painting to Maman, what is her response? How does this set the tone for the rest of their relationship?

6. When Kundera opens the scene of Maman and Jaromil's vacation, he uses many descriptive words and phrases. What effect does this have on the reading of the novel?

7. How does Part 4 begin? What are the literary advantages to this?

8. How does Jaromil prepare for a date with a girl? How does his preparation actually make him completely unprepared for the date?

9. How does Kundera describe Jaromil's nursing? How does this set the tone for the future relationship between mother and son?

10. After the death of Maman's husband, how does she change? Though Kundera does not make it overt, is this change for the better or for the worse?

(see the answer keys)

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