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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What did Natalya's father call her?

2. Who enters at the end of Act 1, Part 1?

3. What does Vera suggest that Beliayev call her?

4. According to Shpigelski, "a doctor worth his salt is never" what?

5. Which character does Rakitin love?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the relationship between Natalya and Rakitin, as it stands in Act 1, Part 2.

2. Describe the progress of the game that Schaaf, Anna, and Liza are playing.

3. Describe what Islayev does for a living.

4. In Act 1, Part 2, how does Shpigelski respond to the question, "How are you?"

5. What does Natalya mean when she tells Rakitin, "Sometimes when we talk together it's exactly as though [...] we were making lace"?

6. What does Rakitin think about in his soliloquy in Act 2, Part 2, and what conclusions does he reach?

7. What conclusion does Rakitin draw in Act 4, Part 3, after he inquires about Natalya's decision and Natalya says, "What decision? ... I don't understand"?

8. Describe Beliayev's opinion of writers.

9. Why is Natalya astonished by the thought of her husband at the end of Act 3, Part 1?

10. What makes Rakitin so happy in Act 1, Part 2?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the theme of youth versus old age, including specific examples of its occurrence in the play.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss Natalya's tendency to manipulate others, and then compare it with what happens when Vera manipulates her.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the role of foreshadowing in the play, using specific examples from the text.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 673 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample