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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How does Mrs. Clements react to Laurence not wanting Pnin to stay in their house?
(a) She ignores him and lets Pnin stay.
(b) She says a prayer and Laurence eventually lets Pnin stay.
(c) She begs him to let Pnin stay.
(d) She yells at him and lets Pnin stay.

2. What is Pnin's first name?
(a) Fredrick.
(b) Alfred.
(c) Timofey.
(d) Patrick.

3. By what means is Pnin traveling at the beginning of the book?
(a) Train.
(b) Boat.
(c) Airplane.
(d) Car.

4. What does Laurence learn from Pnin, in Chapter 2, that helps to change how he feels about him?
(a) French facial expressions.
(b) Polish gestures.
(c) Swedish body language.
(d) Russian gestures.

5. Why was Pnin's office recently relocated?
(a) To accommodate a new Austrian professor.
(b) There were complaints about Pnin.
(c) The building was being renovated.
(d) He needed a bigger office.

6. Why does Pnin decide to track down a certain professor in Chapter 3?
(a) He wants to see if he wants to go get lunch.
(b) He wants to know whether he is the one who has requested his library book.
(c) He wants ask him a question about his lecture.
(d) He is angry that he requested his library book.

7. What is the name of the woman who introduces Pnin at the seminar?
(a) Jane Corrinth.
(b) Judith Clyde.
(c) Janelle Cummings.
(d) Janis Clements.

8. Whom does Pnin ask for the first time he calls to rent a room in Chapter 2?
(a) A "Mrs. Fire."
(b) A Mrs. Earth."
(c) A "Mrs. Water."
(d) A "Mrs. Wind."

9. How does Mrs. Clements seem to feel about what Pnin puts in her washing machine?
(a) Stressed.
(b) Amused.
(c) Angry.
(d) Very annoyed.

10. How would Pnin's laugh be described?
(a) Annoying.
(b) Screeching.
(c) Infectious.
(d) Obnoxious.

11. Besides teaching his students to speak the language that he teaches, what does Pnin occasionally treat his class to?
(a) French history or literature.
(b) Russian history or literature.
(c) German history or literature.
(d) Polish history or literature.

12. Where is Pnin's office located at the college?
(a) The History building.
(b) The English building.
(c) The Science building.
(d) The Humanities building.

13. What is Pnin dependent on using when he reaches the town in Chapter 1?
(a) A prepared text.
(b) His inhaler.
(c) His lap top.
(d) A dictionary.

14. What did Pnin try to do on his own in Chapter 1 rather than take other people's suggestions?
(a) Find a better route.
(b) Write the perfect speech.
(c) Find the perfect suit.
(d) Drive himself to the college.

15. Why can't Pnin get his bag back from the man in Chapter 1?
(a) The man wants to keep the bag for himself.
(b) The man has dementia.
(c) The man does not understand Pnin's imperfect English.
(d) The man does not like foreign people.

Short Answer Questions

1. What abstract field does Pnin have no interest of getting into teaching?

2. Why was Pnin made to sit in his bed for weeks with nothing to do when he was a child?

3. What brings Pnin to tears at the end of Chapter 3?

4. In Chapter 3, how long has Pnin now been staying with the Clementses?

5. What country did Pnin leave right before coming to America?

(see the answer keys)

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