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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. What do the immigrants have for their first meal in the new home?
(a) Grilled eggplant.
(b) Grilled venison.
(c) Grilled salmon.
(d) Grilled shrimp.

2. What does Ryszard witness while on Market Street?
(a) Bogdan exiting a carriage.
(b) The murder of the stockbroker by the Guatemalan.
(c) Maryna kissing the flirting stockbroker.
(d) A bank robbery by Maryna's Guatemalan admirer.

3. What does the group decide in their commune meeting in May?
(a) To stay on the commune working indefinitely.
(b) To stay on the commune working until October.
(c) To stay on the commune until the following spring.
(d) To leave the commune in June.

4. What is the name of the criminal whose skull Edwin Booth possesses?
(a) Perkins Randolph.
(b) Philo Peters.
(c) Randolph Peters.
(d) Philo Perkins.

5. In what is Sarah Bernhardt rumored to sleep?
(a) A circular bed.
(b) A satin lined coffin.
(c) A pile of three mattresses.
(d) A bath tub.

Short Answer Questions

1. What interruption plagues Maryna in her debut that causes her to toss it out of a window?

2. Which roles does Edwin Booth enjoy playing the most?

3. What is the first line of Richard III?

4. To where does Maryna travel for her first performances outside of San Francisco?

5. What does Bogdan want Piotr to pursue rather than piano lessons?

Short Essay Questions

1. Maryna and her family travel back to Poland to see their friends and family. How does the author tell the story of their trip? What comes across in the description of the visit? What important pieces of information are presented?

2. Ryszard offers to take Bogdan and Maryna on a trip to San Bernardinos. Does Bogdan go on the trip? How does he feel about Maryna and Ryzsard alone on the trip?

3. Maryna hires Eliza Withington to take a photograph of the group. Why does she do this? What conversation takes place between Eliza and Maryna after the photo shoot? How does the photo turn out?

4. In Chapter Seven, the narrator says "and she would tell many lies." Why does Maryna begin to tell lies? What does she lie about? What are some of the lies she tells and to whom?

5. In Chapter Six, many of the characters take on new names. Who are they and what are their new names? How does Maryna react to this change?

6. During his monologue, Edwin tells Marina why he suffers. What explanations does he give for his suffering? Would he rather not suffer?

7. Maryna admired Edwin Booth from the time of her childhood. After her performance with him, she joins him in his apartment. What does she learn about Booth in this chapter?

8. After their brief affair, Maryna breaks off her relationship with Ryszard and sends him away. Why does Maryna end the relationship? How do each of them react to the rejection?

9. In Chapter Six, the communal group begins to break up. Where do people go? Does anyone join another commune? Do any of the group remain in California?

10. Edwin Booth talks about his father and his brother, John Booth. What does he reveal about these two important figures in his life?

(see the answer keys)

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