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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 movie does Ludvik end up watching in his pursuit of the person he is following on his weekend alone?

2. What does Ludvik's group, marked by their black insignia, work on every morning?

3. How is the local hospital in Moravia set up?

4. Who narrates part three of "The Joke"?

5. Ludvik decides to leave his hotel shortly after arriving for the first time. What does he want to do?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Ludvik find out the identity of the woman who shaved him?

2. How does Helena describe Zemanek in part two?

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

4. What were the common criticisms given to students at University in the Party? Ludvik describes them as "seeds" that all the students carried with them, to be used against themselves at a moment's notice.

5. Describe the circumstances under which Helena fell in love with Zemanek.

6. What is Kostka's living situation?

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

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

9. What happens during Ludvik's shave that changes the experience for him, and how does Ludvik react to the rest of his shave?

10. 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?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What does the Black Insignia signify to Ludvik? To the Party?

Essay Topic 2

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

Essay Topic 3

Compare and contrast how the people of western Bohemia treat Lucie and the children in the town.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 844 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample