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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. On the train, in "The Train," what did the narrator state was his first happiness?
(a) Faith.
(b) Hope.
(c) Freedom.
(d) Love.

2. What sound did the narrator say was a symbol of the "mainland" for him? ("The Train.")
(a) The train whistle.
(b) Russian music.
(c) Laughter.
(d) Soft voices.

3. What was Romanov's real occupation? ("The Lawyers' Plot.")
(a) Informant for the German Army.
(b) Secret police.
(c) American spy.
(d) Nazi informant.

4. What did the man who asked the narrator for help, in carrying his baskets to the scales, have in his baskets? ("The Train.")
(a) Fruit.
(b) Sunflower seeds.
(c) Grain.
(d) Bread.

5. What was the name of the guard with the bright-blue eyes in "My First Tooth"?
(a) Gusev.
(b) Sherbakov.
(c) Noken.
(d) Siberkov.

6. What train station was the location of "The Train" ?
(a) Niemerov.
(b) Tranpot.
(c) Diertsuv.
(d) Irkutsk.

7. In "My First Tooth," what was written in coal on the walls of the basement?
(a) "Comrades, be strong!"
(b) "Do not give up!"
(c) "Do not give up your humanity!"
(d) "Remember your wives!"

8. What did the narrator call "precious things" in "Esperanto"?
(a) Civilian clothing.
(b) Pea coats.
(c) Convict clothing.
(d) Felt boots.

9. What month was it in "The Lawyers' Plot"?
(a) October.
(b) December.
(c) April.
(d) March.

10. What, in the narrator's language, meant "run off at the mouth"? ("Esperanto.")
(a) Ticking.
(b) Drooling
(c) Squealing.
(d) Tetling.

11. What occupation did Golubev's boss ask if any of the new prisoners had held? ("Magic.")
(a) Doctors.
(b) Lawyers.
(c) Geologists.
(d) Secret police.

12. How many carpenters were allowed to be retained in "Magic"?
(a) 15.
(b) 30.
(c) 50.
(d) 25.

13. What did the Diamond trucks and Studebakers haul along the roads in Kolyma? ("Land-Lease.")
(a) Soy.
(b) Corn.
(c) Oats.
(d) Wheat.

14. According to "The Lawyers' Plot", what does "smertin" mean?
(a) Obedience.
(b) Power.
(c) Death.
(d) Truth.

15. What kind of underwear had the narrator not worn in years? ("The Train.")
(a) Cotton underwear.
(b) Knit underwear.
(c) Silk underwear.
(d) Linen underwear.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why was the window in the basement broken? ("My First Tooth.")

2. What were "unfortunate ones" made to think that machine grease was? ("Land-Lease.")

3. What did the chief, in "Chief of Political Control," refuse in place of doing business first?

4. How much oatmeal did the convicts receive in their portions? ("Land-Lease")

5. According to Golubev's boss in "Magic," who are all of the carpenters?

(see the answer keys)

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