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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. To what simple rule does Nabokov's mother ascribe?
(a) Be honest and things will go your way.
(b) Love your neighbors as yourself.
(c) Love with all your soul and leave the rest to fate.
(d) Follow the Golden Rule.

2. What is their mother's reaction when she sees that her children have opened the presents from their stockings early and poorly rewrapped them?
(a) She spots their deception and bursts into tears.
(b) She scolds them for trying to deceive her.
(c) She pretends to not see their poor rewrapping.
(d) She laughs at their attempt at deception.

3. In any of the memories he has from before his obsession began, Nabokov cannot recall the presence of butterflies. What can he recall afterward?
(a) He cannot remember the outdoors without them.
(b) He is constantly finding new species.
(c) Not very many butterflies, because most Russian varieties are extinct.
(d) He cannot find nearly as many butterflies as he thought he would.

4. The rest of the chapters are published separately, mainly by whom?
(a) The St. Petersburg Publishing House.
(b) The New Yorker.
(c) The New York Times.
(d) The Chicago Tribune.

5. What is the process by which Vladimir Nabokov writes "Speak, Memory?"
(a) The autobiographical novel is culled from Russian history books.
(b) The autobiographical novel is culled from essays on his life.
(c) The autobiographical novel is culled from stories told to him by family members.
(d) The autobiographical novel is culled from essays written by the author's son.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is happening to the science of butterflies at this time?

2. To whom is Chapter Five devoted?

3. What does the rain cause to grow on the estate?

4. To what does the memory of the bracelet lead?

5. What is the common name for Boletusoften?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens to Dimitri Nabokov after his retirement?

2. Where do they head to from Paris? What do they do when they get there?

3. Describe Nabokov's brother, Sergey.

4. Describe Nabokov's ancestors.

5. Who is Mademoiselle?

6. When does Nabokov meet Colette? How do they spend their time together?

7. Who are the tutors hired to educate the Nabokov children?

8. How does Nabokov meet Mademoiselle after she leaves Russia?

9. How do the Nabokovs travel from St. Petersburg to Paris?

10. What is Nabokov's life like after leaving Cambridge?

(see the answer keys)

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