This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What reason does the narrator give in his argument that Zorba should not pressure him to visit the widow?
(a) Acting impulsively is against his nature.
(b) He needs to stay focused on his writing.
(c) Acting impulsively is his nature and he's trying to change.
(d) He doesn't want to hurt the widow's feelings.

2. How does Zorba describe God?
(a) He describes him as a crazier and wilder version of himself.
(b) He describes him as "ether."
(c) He describes him as peaceful and quiet.
(d) He likens him to the mine.

3. What does the narrator mostly do while Zorba works in the mine?
(a) He also works in the mine.
(b) He romances Madame Hortense.
(c) He works on his writing.
(d) He swims in the ocean.

4. What or who does the narrator live for?
(a) Mankind.
(b) God.
(c) Women.
(d) Zorba.

5. With what does the narrator compare his lustful feelings for the widow to?
(a) Walking on the beach at night.
(b) Not ever finding any lignite in the mine.
(c) The widow's garden.
(d) The temptation of Buddha by the Evil One.

6. What incident on the beach mellows the narrator's restlessness?
(a) He hears strange music.
(b) He accidentally kills a butterfly.
(c) He sees a shooting star.
(d) A horse and rider pass by.

7. With whom does Zorba begin a romance?
(a) Dame Hortense.
(b) A young widowed mother.
(c) A strange woman walking on the beach.
(d) A nun.

8. In regards to food, what three categories does Zorba say that the three different types of men turn their food into?
(a) Fear, love, and God.
(b) Fat and manure, work and good humor, and God.
(c) Sex, work, and fat.
(d) Love and kindness, manure and energy, and gluttony.

9. At the feast at Noussa's house, what does Zorba say happened after he gave the toast?
(a) An extravagant meal.
(b) A concert.
(c) A candle lighting ceremony.
(d) An orgy.

10. What body part is Zorba missing a part of?
(a) Toe.
(b) Ear.
(c) Finger.
(d) Arm.

11. What is Zorba's response when the narrator asks him how many times he has been married?
(a) Three times.
(b) Twice honestly and once half-honestly.
(c) Once honestly and twice half-honestly.
(d) Four times.

12. Why does Zorba say he removed the body part?
(a) It was too big.
(b) It hurt constantly.
(c) It was strangely colored.
(d) It got in the way of his pottery.

13. In Chapter 3, what is the narrator reading when Zorba asks him to come in for lunch?
(a) Virgil.
(b) Dante.
(c) The Bible.
(d) Shakespeare.

14. When Zorba and the narrator refuse Mavrandoni's offer of hospitality, what does he say about them?
(a) He calls Madame Hortense mean names.
(b) He says they are free to choose.
(c) He says they are ungrateful.
(d) He says that he thinks they must be very hungry.

15. How does Zorba treat women for the most part?
(a) He is physically abusive.
(b) He acts as a servant to them.
(c) He is mostly very kind.
(d) He belittles them in public.

Short Answer Questions

1. What has historically impacted Crete and the Cretan people more than anything else?

2. About what does Zorba confront the miners?

3. What act has Zorba performed that symbolizes the connection between freedom and manliness?

4. What does the narrator remember his grandfather doing?

5. Zorba tells the narrator stories about the island. What kind of events does he describe?

Multiple Choice Answer Key

Short Answer Key

1. What has historically impacted Crete and the Cretan people more than anything else?

Wars.

2. About what does Zorba confront the miners?

Failing to get their picks before exiting.

3. What act has Zorba performed that symbolizes the connection between freedom and manliness?

He cut part of his finger off because it got in the way of his pottery.

4. What does the narrator remember his grandfather doing?

He demanded stories from his guests.

5. Zorba tells the narrator stories about the island. What kind of events does he describe?

Wars and revolutions.