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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. At what point is Hofmiller comfortable giving his men the orders to resume galloping?
(a) When his commanding officer orders him to do so.
(b) When his men begin to question his decision.
(c) When they are no longer in view of Edith's home and there is no danger of her seeing them.
(d) When he sees another group of soldiers ahead and wants to catch up with them.

2. When Ilona asks Hofmiller why he did not come to the castle, what lie does he tell her?
(a) He says he fell asleep and didn't wake up until it was too late.
(b) He admits that he simply did not want to come.
(c) He says he had to inspect a horse his Colonel wanted to buy.
(d) He says his parents had arrived unexpectedly for a visit.

3. What does Dr. Condor tell Hofmiller about the contraptions and treatments he has been providing for Edith?
(a) He says they are helping Edith make steady progress.
(b) He says they have not been helpful, but he continues using them because they give the family hope.
(c) He says they have not helped yet, but he is confident that they will lead to a cure eventually.
(d) He confesses that their main purpose is to enable him to continue billing Kekesfalva large sums of money.

4. How does Dr. Condor respond when Hofmiller asks if Edith's condition is curable?
(a) He says he is certain there is no cure.
(b) He chastises Hofmiller, saying that to believe anyone is incurable is to deny them hope.
(c) He says he is certain that a cure exists and he is working on finding it.
(d) He tells Hofmiller that Edith's condition is none of his business.

5. When talking about Edith's condition over dinner at the castle, what question does Dr. Condor ask that causes Kekesfalva to become upset and defensive?
(a) He asks if it's possible that the servants have been mistreating Edith.
(b) He asks Kekesfalva if he trusts his diagnosis of Edith's case.
(c) He says that Kekesfalva has not paid his most recent bill and asks when he can expect payment.
(d) He asks whether Kekesfalva has called in another doctor to work with Edith.

6. How does Hofmiller react when he sees Ilona in the street after taking a night away from the family to play cards with his friends?
(a) He is excited about the opportunity to introduce her to his friends.
(b) He is upset that she has apparently left Edith alone.
(c) He seems embarrassed and tries to avoid her.
(d) He is thrilled to see her on his own turf and asks her to go for a walk or to the patisserie.

7. After angrily confronting Hofmiller about lying to her, what does Edith tell him about continuing to visit the family?
(a) He can continue to visit only if he begins to formally court her.
(b) He should come only once or twice a week, and let the family know in advance when he'll be there.
(c) He should come every night with no exceptions.
(d) He should come only if he really wants to, and he should not lie to her or pity her.

8. Why does Edith keep secret pictures of dancers?
(a) She hopes to become an artist.
(b) She loved dancing before her accident.
(c) Her father doesn't approve of the pictures, so she keeps them hidden.
(d) She sells them to make extra money.

9. Hofmiller shows his friends a gift that Kekesfalva gave him. What is the item?
(a) A gold pen.
(b) An expensive first-edition book.
(c) A gold cigarette case.
(d) A silver flask.

10. When Kekesfalva asks Hofmiller about his conversation with Dr. Condor regarding Edith's condition, what does Hofmiller say at first?
(a) He says Dr. Condor refused to discuss Edith's condition with him.
(b) He says Dr. Condor thinks there is no hope for a cure.
(c) He says Dr. Condor spent most of the conversation telling him about Kekesfalva's own history.
(d) He simply assures him that everything will be OK and says he'll give him the details later.

11. Sitting in the café alone after buying Dietzenhof's property, how did Kekesfalva decide to handle his guilt over tricking her?
(a) He decided that guilt is a useless emotion and refused to let it consume him.
(b) He decided to go to church and make a confession.
(c) He decided to sell it immediately and give her half the money.
(d) He decided he'd give her the opportunity to take it back.

12. What does Hofmiller think to himself about his decision not to gallop the horses?
(a) He realizes that it is foolish to deny oneself a pleasure just because someone else could not enjoy it.
(b) He is afraid he'll get into trouble with his superiors for going too slowly.
(c) He feels proud of himself for showing such a degree of respect for Edith.
(d) He worries that his men aren't being properly trained.

13. Why does Hofmiller say he joined the military?
(a) His career was forced on him.
(b) He hoped to become a general.
(c) He was drafted.
(d) It was his lifelong ambition.

14. What is Hofmiller most afraid of when he realizes his blunder in asking Edith to dance?
(a) He is afraid he will be demoted by his commanding officer.
(b) He is afraid he won't be invited to future parties.
(c) He is afraid of what others will think of him when they realize what happened.
(d) He is afraid people will laugh at his dancing.

15. According to the book's introduction by Joan Acocella, why was the author, Stefan Zweig, so interested in the inner workings of the human mind?
(a) He read a great deal about psychology.
(b) He was a friend of Sigmund Freud.
(c) He was trained as a psychiatrist.
(d) His father was a psychiatrist.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does his decision to trot instead of gallop make Hofmiller realize about himself?

2. What does Dr. Condor tell Hofmiller was his initial opinion about why Hofmiller has become friends with Kekesfalva and his family?

3. How does Hofmiller fill about Edith and Ilona after spending a few evenings in their company?

4. What does Hofmiller say is the most startling thing that happens to him the night of his conversation with Dr. Condor?

5. How did Kekesfalva initially begin to manipulate Dietzenhof in order to gain control of her inheritance?

(see the answer keys)

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