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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. To where do the boys win scholarships?
(a) Tufts University.
(b) University of Paris.
(c) College of William and Mary.
(d) Oxford.

2. Vladimir is raised by his own share of governesses and tutors but where does he go at the age of 13?
(a) Poly Preparatory.
(b) St. Petersburg Academy.
(c) The Gymnasium.
(d) Berkshire Boys Academy.

3. What puts Nabokov at odds with many of his colleagues?
(a) His inability to speak English.
(b) His Russian accent.
(c) His opinions of the state of affairs in his home country.
(d) His desire to emigrate to the United States.

4. What does Nabokov remember about his father's remarkable writing ability?
(a) He is very poetic.
(b) He could spell any word.
(c) He has beautiful handwriting.
(d) He could write sentence after sentence without correction.

5. What does Sergey do during WWII?
(a) He builds weaponry.
(b) He is an SS soldier.
(c) He is employed as a translator in Berlin.
(d) He emigrates to the United States and joins the Army.

6. At what does Nabokov hint about Sergey?
(a) His desire to join the military.
(b) His wish to emigrate to America.
(c) His interest in a girl.
(d) His possible homosexuality.

7. Why do they hire the village schoolmaster, though he is not technically one of the family's regular tutors?
(a) To give them mathematics lessons.
(b) To give them writing lessons.
(c) To give them a crash course in the Russian language.
(d) To give them French lessons.

8. What is Nabokov called in exile?
(a) An immigrant.
(b) A white Russian.
(c) A dirty Russian.
(d) A ymigry.

9. What is the response to Nabokov's published book of poems?
(a) Critics want to see another book published.
(b) No response.
(c) Critics are not kind.
(d) Huge praise.

10. What does Vladimir do before hurrying young Nabokov along to school?
(a) He bends down to kiss Nabokov.
(b) He checks his school work.
(c) He has him take a bath.
(d) He makes sure he eats breakfast.

11. Why does she hand him a hand mirror?
(a) He has a cut on his forehead.
(b) His face is covered in dirt.
(c) He had smashed a mosquito on his cheek.
(d) He has grown so much.

12. What is publication like outside of Russia?
(a) Not as good as in Russia.
(b) A well-paying, satisfying career.
(c) Often insufficiently lucrative to provide a comfortable existence.
(d) Better than in the United States.

13. What is the subject of this chapter?
(a) Nabokov's father, Vladimir Dmitrievich Nabokov.
(b) Nabokov's brother, Vladimir Dmitrievich Nabokov.
(c) Nabokov's uncle, Vladimir Dmitrievich Nabokov.
(d) Nabokov's tutor, Vladimir Dmitrievich Nabokov.

14. What does the revolution do to most of the Russian writers and artists?
(a) Hires them to write about the revolution.
(b) Sends them into exile.
(c) Increases their fame.
(d) Gives them subjects for their work.

15. What country does the family travel through on their way to London?
(a) Belgium.
(b) Greece.
(c) France.
(d) Italy.

Short Answer Questions

1. What casts a cloud over the exiled Russian intelligentsia?

2. After Cambridge, how is Nabokov's life?

3. What happens to Yuri in northern Crimea?

4. What does she tell him when he is finished reciting the poem?

5. His other brother, Sergey, is only a year younger than Nabokov. The two are raised together, but what makes them different?

(see the answer keys)

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