2. As the woman cleans Ludvik's face with a towel, what does Ludvik pretend?
(a) She is caressing him.
(b) He is being cleaned by someone else.
(c) She is slapping him.
(d) He is back in Prague with his regular barber.

3. At the end of her first year at university, Marketa is sent away by who?
(a) Her parents.
(b) Her professor.
(c) Ludvik.
(d) The Comrades.

4. How is the local hospital in Moravia set up?
(a) Two identical towers facing each other.
(b) A complex of buildings spread out.
(c) A small, sad shack.
(d) One large building of concrete.

5. What is the name of the narrator of the first section of the novel?
(a) Ludvik.
(b) Jaroslav.
(c) Milan.
(d) Helena.

6. Where does Kostka live?
(a) In the same hotel Ludvik is staying in.
(b) A bachelor flat in a new complex.
(c) He has a room in the hospital.
(d) A two-room flat in another town 30 miles away.

7. The day following their one-day reunion, Ludvik phones Marketa. What happens?
(a) A stranger tells Ludvik that Marketa moved to Prague.
(b) Marketa makes a date with him that night.
(c) A stranger tells Ludvik that Marketa moved to Bratislava.
(d) Marketa makes a date with him that weekend.

8. Where is the man Ludvik asks for at the booth at the gate of the hospital?
(a) He just left and is on his way out.
(b) He is out on lunch.
(c) He did not come to work that day.
(d) He is in his office.

9. Who said, "May melancholy never taint my name."?
(a) Stalin.
(b) Zedna.
(c) Fucik.
(d) Moravia.

10. What does Ludvik think of this woman's voice who shaved him?
(a) It is the voice of a stranger.
(b) It is very soothing.
(c) It is the voice he recognizes most.
(d) It is very formal and cold.

11. According to Helena, what does Zemanek live on?
(a) Hard work.
(b) His morals.
(c) Applause.
(d) Drink.

12. Ludvik and Kostka, just before Kostka returns to the hospital, come to an ideological impasse. How long ago were they in the same position?
(a) Seven years.
(b) Fifteen years.
(c) Nine years.
(d) Fourteen years.

13. Moravia reminds the narrator of what city?
(a) Brno.
(b) Prague.
(c) Bratislava.
(d) Ostrava.

14. How does Kostka receive Ludvik after not seeing each other in so long?
(a) Kostka is glad to see Ludvik.
(b) Kostka was pleasant to Ludvik, but excused himself quickly.
(c) Kostka did not want to see Ludvik.
(d) Kostka was cold to Ludvik.

15. How does the narrator view the town square of his hometown after his long absence?
(a) He finds it beautiful.
(b) He finds it unsightly.
(c) He finds it charming.
(d) He finds it changed from his memory.