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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 does Ludvik think of this woman's voice who shaved him?

2. What is the name of Helena's daughter?

3. What was the last thing Ludvik said after leaving his meeting with the board?

4. Where do Helena and Ludvik go after running around the woods and Helena sings, "Oh brightly shines the sun in our garden..."?

5. Who is the narrator of the part two?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Ludvik feel frustrated when he leaves the barber for his shave?

2. What is Kostka's bachelor pad like?

3. After Marketa and Ludvik speak candidly about the postcard, Ludvik suggests he could win Marketa despite everything. How, and what, does he do?

4. Describe Moravia as Ludvik sees it upon his return at the beginning of "The Joke".

5. Describe the story of the dwarfs Ludvik told Marketa.

6. How is Ludvik received by the dark Slovak NCO who got a first at marksmanship?

7. What is Helena's credo?

8. After their second meeting, Ludvik tells Helena that he is going to pick her up in front of the station the following day. What did they do on this outing?

9. How does Helena describe Zemanek in part two?

10. What is a typical day in the life of Ludvik at Ostrava?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the altercation between Jaroslav and Vlasta at the end of "The Joke". How does their fight reflect their whole relationship?

Essay Topic 2

Why does Ludvik see Lucie as the King of the Ride of the Kings?

Essay Topic 3

What is the significance of "the mirror" to the characters of "The Joke"? Pick two characters to focus your essay.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 736 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample