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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. Of what are Nabokov's memories in a Russian setting?
(a) A quite German childhood.
(b) A quite English childhood.
(c) A quite French childhood.
(d) A quite Russian childhood.

2. Why does Vasiliy insist upon lying supine on the floor?
(a) He claims it relieves his chest pains.
(b) He claims it stretches out his spine.
(c) He claims it helps him breathe better.
(d) He claims it improves his posture.

3. Each day, when he awakes, how can young Vladimir tell what kind of day it is?
(a) By having the servants open the curtains.
(b) By the character of the light that slips through the shutters.
(c) By looking out of the window.
(d) By asking his mother to check the weather.

4. They board the Sud-Express and disembark in what town?
(a) Nice.
(b) Marseille.
(c) Biarritz.
(d) Brest.

5. What does Nabokov claim stems more from an ecological longing for the place of his birth, than in his family's loss of property and station?
(a) His anger toward the Germans.
(b) His anger toward the Bolsheviks.
(c) His anger toward the British.
(d) His anger toward the French.

Short Answer Questions

1. During one such trip in the summer of 1909, who does young Nabokov meet?

2. What is the common name for Boletusoften?

3. From where is the family returning to Russia?

4. Why is he detained briefly in 1918, by a Bolshevik soldier?

5. How many years does Mademoiselle spend with the family?

Short Essay Questions

1. Nabokov reveals that his mind always associates sounds with colors. How does his mother react to this unusual sensibility?

2. Where do they head to from Paris? What do they do when they get there?

3. What is cause is Vladimir's passion?

4. Why does Mademoiselle want to leave the family?

5. Why does Nabokov have trouble sleeping?

6. Who is Mademoiselle?

7. How are the Nabokov's affected by their son? What do we learn about Dmitri, as he grows?

8. When does Nabokov meet Colette? How do they spend their time together?

9. How does Nabokov spend hours of his time during this period of his life?

10. What does he learn about himself, regarding Russian poets?

(see the answer keys)

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