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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 is Belikov and Kovalenko's relationship like?

2. In "The Darling", why does Kukin hate the rain so much?

3. What feeling does Bishop Pyotr instill in people?

4. Why do the women in town get excited about Belikov's life?

5. What are the people's reaction to the Zemstvo killing?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is Pyotr different as a person and as a bishop?

2. Describe what life is like in the countryside where there is a factory?

3. What is the root cause of Liza's illness?

4. Dr. Starchenko from "On Official Business" mentions old folks disliking this "nervous age." What might this "nervous age" refer to?

5. Compare and contrast Olga's husbands and lovers. How are their personality types alike and different? How does this affect Olga as a person?

6. What is life like for Pyotr?

7. According to Ivan Ivanych, what is the balance of sadness and happiness in the world?

8. What does Korolev theorize is the cause of imbalance between the strong and the weak?

9. In "The Bishop", what is Bishops Pyotr's relationship with his mother Marya like when she visits him after nine years?

10. How does Katya show how she feels about Pyotr's status as a bishop?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

From "A Boring Story", write an essay about male/male and female/female relationships. Base answers on Stepanych and Mr. Gnekker's relationship for male/male and Varya and Liza's relationship with Katya for female/female. Why is it difficult for Stepanych to like Mr. Gnekker and why is it difficult for Liza and Varya to like Katya and vice versa?

Essay Topic 2

Compare how the soldiers and the sailor on the boat in "Gusev" handle a long boat ride back home to Russia. How do they each deal with long days without enough food and water, entertainment, and occupation? What does each resort do in order to try to keep their sanity?

Essay Topic 3

Based on Chekhov's stories, write about what his philosophy might be.

(see the answer keys)

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