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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. Where do the children bathe?
(a) The creek on the estate.
(b) Russian baths.
(c) French bathing tubs.
(d) English portable tubs.

2. How does Mr. Cummings influence Nabokov's scientific drawings of butterflies?
(a) He is Nabokov's science instructor.
(b) He is Nabokov's botanist.
(c) He is Nabokov's butterfly instructor.
(d) He is Nabokov's drawing instructor.

3. Why does Nabokov's mother often wander the estate's forest?
(a) It helps clear her mind.
(b) She becomes lost easily.
(c) To search for mushrooms.
(d) She loves the estate property.

4. What does this thriving upper-class tourist industry offer?
(a) Vendors lining the beach and even servants in the change huts to assist in the removal of bathing suits.
(b) Expensive restaurants, street vendors, and swimming lessons.
(c) Live performances, pubs and restaurants, and bicycles to rent.
(d) Gambling, live theatre, and music.

5. After his father's death, to where does Nabokov's widowed mother move?
(a) Berlin.
(b) London.
(c) Prague.
(d) Paris.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why does Nabokov's father force the family to leave a sidewalk cafe?

2. How do the aristocrats confront the ocean waves?

3. Soon, the string of nurses transforms into what?

4. The rest of the chapters are published separately, mainly by whom?

5. What does this hobby do to him?

Short Essay Questions

1. When does Nabokov begin to write poetry?

2. He also had several art instructors. Who are they and what does he learn from them?

3. Vladimir and his brother, Sergey, go through a series of nurses and governesses. Describe some of his memories of these women.

4. Nabokov is surprised to learn of what happens to several of his art teachers in the future. Why?

5. Why does Nabokov have trouble sleeping?

6. What does the Russian revolution do to most of Russia's writers and artists?

7. The local schoolmaster is brought in to give the children a crash course in the Russian language. What takes place at a meeting between the father, son, and schoolmaster?

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

9. What does Max do, regarding the watchdogs?

10. What is Nabokov's life like after leaving Cambridge?

(see the answer keys)

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