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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 the title of Olga's best-seller translate to in English?

2. What was the name of the man Eva left her husband for in the narrative?

3. Who tells Olga she would kill herself in America?

4. Who accused Eva and her family of being Jews in Europe?

5. What are not allowed at the orgy parties at Klenek's?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Sisovsky tell Zuckerman Eva cannot return to Prague? How did they leave?

2. What does Sisovsky tell Zuckerman about Eva's past in Prague when they first meet?

3. What does Bolotka relate to Zuckerman in explaining the orgy parties? Who does he claim attends them?

4. What does Bolotka tell Zuckerman about Olga when they first meet? Who approaches Olga to reveal herself at the party?

5. How does Sisovsky describe his father? What does Sisovsky conclude his father belonged to?

6. What conversation do Bolotka and Olga have about America at the Kleneks' party?

7. What is symbolically alluded to in the conversation between Sisovsky and Zuckerman regarding doubt?

8. What does Olga beg of Zuckerman before he leaves the party at Klenek's? What does Bolotka tell him upon parting?

9. Why does Sisovsky tell Zuckerman his novel is banned? Why did he leave Czechoslovakia?

10. What does the story of Eva's past foreshadow for the protagonist?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the different parts of Prague and how the economic situation there in 1976 differed from what Zuckerman had been exposed to in the U.S. What experiences had Zuckerman had with poverty before coming to Prague?

Essay Topic 2

How did Zuckerman enter Prague? How difficult was it in 1976 for Americans to enter the Eastern Bloc? Where does Klenek live and what is established about his residence in the text?

Essay Topic 3

Describe the character of Eva Kalinova, her history of anti-Semitic discrimination in Prague, and the role of the Minister of Culture and Vice-Minister of Culture in Prague. Why was the Vice-Minister fired?

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This section contains 846 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample