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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 did making love with the engineer in the absence of love do to Tereza?
(a) it liberated her
(b) it confined her soul
(c) it darkened her soul's sight
(d) it restored her soul's sight

2. In Part 5, Chapter 25, why was it impossible for Tereza and Tomas to spend the night at the little town outside of Prague?
(a) the town was still very affected by the days of the Soviet invasion
(b) all its street signs were taken from Russian geography and history
(c) the hotel where they normally stayed resembled a miniature Russia
(d) the town's sign posts had disappeared because during the invasion people pulled them down

3. When did Tomas realize the strange man was interrogating him?
(a) when he offered him a job with the government
(b) when he asked to meet him alone after work
(c) when he asked for the editor's name
(d) when he asked him very personal questions

4. In Part 5, Chapter 2, who does the author attribute the works of the Communist regime of Central Europe?
(a) enthusiasts who wanted power
(b) criminals who were after wealth
(c) criminals who cared only about themselves
(d) enthusiasts convinced they had disvoered the only road to paradise

5. What did Tomas catch Tereza do that upset him?
(a) make a grave for Karenin
(b) give Karenin chocolate
(c) search his desk
(d) read his letters

Short Answer Questions

1. In one of her dreams, what was it that Tereza saw floating downstream as she stared at the river?

2. In Part 7, Chapter 6, what animal does Tereza dream of?

3. What disease did Karenin have?

4. In what condition did Tereza and Karenin find the black crow under?

5. What was the only reason Simon became involved with the editor?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Part 4, Chapter 13, Tereza has a dream where she admits to the executioner that it wasn't her choice to come to the hill to die. Has she subconsciously renounced responsibility for her actions in order to proceed with what she wants to do?

2. In Part 7, Chapter 4, why does Tereza think that her love for Karenin is better than the love between her and Tomas?

3. What did Tereza worry would happen if Tomas found out about her affair with the engineer?

4. What is at stake if Tomas does not retract the article he wrote?

5. When talking to his son, Simon, what is Tomas's attitude about the article he had written?

6. Describe Tomas's work at the clinic.

7. Kundera writes, whenever a single political movement corners power, we find ourselves in the realm of totalitarian kitsch. What does he mean by the word "totalitarian?"

8. What does the article about the dogs being summarily shot in Russia signify for Tereza?

9. All her life Sabina had proclaimed kitsch her enemy. But, Kundera asks, hasn't she in fact been carrying it with her?

10. What is "kitsch?"

(see the answer keys)

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