Name _____________________________ Class _________________ Date __________________
Unit 4: Collection 8
Selection Test
READING AND LITERATURE
The Brute: A Joke in One Act Anton Chekhov
COMPREHENSION Circle the letter of the best answer to each of the following
items.
1. What best describes Mrs. Popov’s emotions at the beginning of the play?
A) Furious
C) Inconsolable
B) Squeamish
D) Excited
2. Luka acts toward Mrs. Popov with—
A) fear
C) concern
B) anger
D) disgust
3. For what reason does Mr. Smirnov visit the Popov home?
A) Luka wants him to court Mrs.
Popov.
C) Toby requires a new supply of
oats.
B) He is owed money by Mr.
Popov.
D) He hopes to make friends
with Mrs. Popov.
4. What word best describes Mr. Smirnov?
A) Happy
C) Aggressive
B) Jealous
D) Childish
5. Which word best describes Luka’s relationship with Mrs. Popov?
A) Cold
C) Disrespectful
B) Distant
D) Loyal
6. The tone of The Brute can best be described as—
A) rational
C) mocking
B) reasonable
D) somber
7. Which sentence states the basic conflict between Mr. Smirnov and Mrs. Popov
throughout most of the play?
A) He demands immediate payment of a debt, but she refuses.
B) She refuses to acknowledge any debts she or her husband owe in relation to
Toby.
C) He wants her to acknowledge that women are awful, but she disagrees with
him.
D) He wants to marry her, but she wants to continue mourning her dead husband.
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Unit 4: Collection 8, Selection Test continued
8. A change in the relationship between Smirnov and Mrs. Popov occurs when—
A) Mrs. Popov accepts a duel
with Smirnov
C) Mrs. Popov admits that her
husband has cheated on her
B) Smirnov protests about
women who have jilted him
D) Luka advises Mrs. Popov that
Toby needs to be fed
9. Smirnov’s feelings about Mrs. Popov go from—
A) fear to anger
C) indifference to curiosity
B) frustration to love
D) confusion to friendship
10. At the end of the play, why does Mrs. Popov tell Luka that “ . . .Toby is not to have
any oats today”?
A) Unable to pay her debt, she can no longer afford to feed Popov’s horse.
B) She has decided never to leave her home until the time of her funeral.
C) She no longer mourns Popov and has fallen in love with Smirnov.
D) Luka has succeeded in convincing her to ignore Smirnov’s demands.
VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT Match the definition on the left with the
vocabulary word on the right. On the line provided, write the letter of the correct
vocabulary word.
_____ 11. to suggest
A) emancipation
_____ 12. slightly ill
B) impudence
_____ 13. freedom from punishment
C) impunity
_____ 14. quality of being disrespectful
D) indisposed
_____ 15. liberation; the act of setting free
E) insinuate
LITERARY FOCUS Circle the letter of the best answer to each of the following
items.
16. Which describes the situation in The Brute that is most typical of a farce?
A) A man and woman quarrel furiously and fall suddenly in love.
B) A woman vows to mourn her dead husband forever.
C) An old servant threatens an unwelcome intruder with an axe.
D) A man tries to collect a long overdue debt from a widow with no money.
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Unit 4: Collection 8, Selection Test continued
17. The title of this play is sometimes translated as The Bear. How would this title
enhance the comedy in the play?
A) By acting like an angry bear, Smirnov makes Mrs. Popov seem funnier than
she really is.
B) This title, like the characters and actions in the play, is a ridiculous
exaggeration.
C) When Mrs. Popov suddenly acts as violently as a bear and wields a gun, she
surprises the audience and makes them laugh.
D) When Luka makes fun of Smirnov and Mrs. Popov, he is revealed as a
bumbling bearlike person who is not threatening but funny.
18. The most important plot twist occurs when—
A) Luka returns with an axe and other servants
B) Mrs. Popov tells Luka to give Toby extra oats
C) Mrs. Popov tells Mr. Smirnov to return another day
D) Mr. Smirnov falls in love with Mrs. Popov
READING FOCUS Circle the letter of the best answer to each of the following
items.
19. We can predict Mr. Smirnov and Mrs. Popov will be together in the end because the
play is a—
A) tragedy
C) drama
B) TV sitcom
D) comedy
20. We can predict Mr. Smirnov will fall in love because throughout the play—
A) he tells Luka about his love for Mrs. Popov
B) he expresses his love to Mrs. Popov
C) he is so adamant against falling in love
D) he gives subtle hints that he is falling in love
21. We can predict Mrs. Popov will fall in love when she admits that her husband—
A) had not been a good husband
to her
C) loved Toby more than he
loved her
B) was the best husband in the
world
D) was always faithful and kind
to her
CONSTRUCTED RESPONSE
22. Choose either Smirnov or Mrs. Popov. Explain how the character you chose helps
to make The Brute a farce. Include at least two details from the play to support your
idea.
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Name _____________________________ Class _________________ Date __________________
Original content Copyright © by Holt, Rinehart and Winston. Additions and changes to the original content are the responsibility of the instructor.
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