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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. When did Marketa dislike her mother-in-law?
(a) When Marketa and Karel lived with his parents.
(b) When the mother-in-law lived with them after her husband dies.
(c) When her mother-in-law used to try to control how the grandchildren were raised.
(d) Never.

2. When did Mama learn the poem?
(a) She does not remember.
(b) When she is a young girl.
(c) In high school.
(d) In college.

3. What does Eva want?
(a) To explore her sexuality.
(b) A feeling of family.
(c) She is not sure.
(d) Male attention and satisfaction.

4. Where does Kundera remember a number of historical events happening?
(a) Czech Republic and Ukraine.
(b) Bohemia and Ukraine.
(c) Bohemia and the Czech Republic.
(d) Russia and Bohemia.

5. What does Mama forget?
(a) The last line of the poem.
(b) To cook the pasta.
(c) To pack her pajamas.
(d) To bring her toothbrush.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who does Karel picture in his mind when he, Marketa and Eva are together later?

2. For what does Mirek ask Zdena?

3. What does distance do for Marketa's attitude toward her mother-in-law?

4. Who addresses the Czech people?

5. What does Mama start to doubt?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is Mirek going to visit and why?

2. What happens that embarrasses Mama?

3. How would the relationship between Marketa and Karel change if Marketa cheats on him with Eva and her husband?

4. Why does Kundera quit dancing and what does he imagine about the dancing? Of what do you think his imagining about the dancing is symbolic?

5. Why do you think Marketa asks Eva to pretend she is Marketa's cousin?

6. What does this Kundera say about our collective past?

7. What does Kundera say about laughter in response to Michelle and Gabrielle's laughter?

8. What happens when Karel receives a phone call and how is the outcome ironic?

9. Where does Mirek stop and why is that problematic?

10. What is it that Marketa does not know about Eva and do you think Marketa would care at this point if she learned this?

(see the answer keys)

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