What does Ivan say, ironically, when he sees the water gush into the clinic's bathtub?

That it is just like the Metropol

That it is fit for a procurator

That it reminds him of Griboedov's

That it must have cost a fortune

Which of these events happen during Ivan's first morning in the clinic?

Ivan presses the bell button a second time at the word 'Attendant'.

The nurse says scientists and doctors come especially to study the clinic.

Ivan is given coffee, two soft-boiled eggs and white bread with butter.

Ivan chooses a dressing gown instead of pyjamas.

Ivan tells the nurse the whole story of Pontius Pilate.

Why does Ivan reject his first plan of smashing the lamps and instruments?

They might decide he is a violent madman

He worries he would have to pay for them

He does not want to upset the kind nurse

He is still too weak from his long sleep

Which illness from Ivan's past do the doctors get out of him?

Scarlet fever, about fifteen years ago

Measles, when he was about ten years old

Diphtheria, in the winter he turned six

Typhus, caught during his school years

Which relative does Ivan end up telling the doctors about?

An uncle who drank hard in Vologda

A cousin who wrote bad verse in Kiev

A grandfather who served in the army

An aunt who kept a little shop in Tver

Which of these acts from the day before does Stravinsky NOT read out from Ivan's chart?

Bursting into a stranger's apartment

Trying to jump out of the window

Hanging a little icon on his chest

Calling the police for machine-guns

Which of these events happen during Stravinsky's visit?

Stravinsky sits on a stool while his staff remain standing.

Stravinsky asks Ivan who Annushka is.

Stravinsky orders paper and a short pencil for Ivan.

Ivan demands that Stravinsky telephone the police for him.

Stravinsky urges Ivan to write his statement right away.

Why does Stravinsky ask whether Ivan will stop at his own place before going to the police?

To show he would arrive there in his drawers

To find out where the poet lives in town

To warn him the stranger may be waiting there

To offer to send his belongings over to him

What does Stravinsky tell the bearded assistant to try as he leaves Ivan's room?

Oxygen and baths for the patient

Bed rest and no visitors at all

The Master and Margarita, Chapter 8: The Combat Between the Professor and the Poet quiz

From The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov

The Master and Margarita Chapter 8 summary: Ivan wakes in Stravinsky's clinic, demands his release, and is talked into staying by the courteous professor.

12 questions · about 13 minutes

Read the chapter

Questions and answers

1
Question 1. What does Ivan say, ironically, when he sees the water gush into the clinic's bathtub?
- That it is fit for a procurator
- That it reminds him of Griboedov's
- That it must have cost a fortune
- Correct answer: That it is just like the Metropol
Ivan says 'Looky there! Just like the Metropol!', and the nurse proudly answers that the clinic is much better.
Read the passage
2
Question 2. Which of these events happen during Ivan's first morning in the clinic?
- Ivan presses the bell button a second time at the word 'Attendant'.
  
  Happened
  
  Ivan presses the button again when the cylinder shows "Attendant", and a plump woman in a white coat comes in.
- Ivan chooses a dressing gown instead of pyjamas.
  
  Didn't happen
  
  The woman offers a dressing gown or pyjamas, and Ivan silently points at the crimson flannel pyjamas.
- The nurse says scientists and doctors come especially to study the clinic.
  
  Happened
  
  When Ivan compares the bathroom to the Metropol, the woman proudly says scientists and doctors come especially to study the clinic.
- Ivan tells the nurse the whole story of Pontius Pilate.
  
  Didn't happen
  
  Ivan almost starts telling about Pontius Pilate but holds back, realizing the woman could not help him.
- Ivan is given coffee, two soft-boiled eggs and white bread with butter.
  
  Happened
  
  After the examination Ivan is taken back to his room and given coffee, two soft-boiled eggs and white bread with butter.
Read the passage
3
Question 3. Why does Ivan reject his first plan of smashing the lamps and instruments?
- He worries he would have to pay for them
- Correct answer: They might decide he is a violent madman
- He does not want to upset the kind nurse
- He is still too weak from his long sleep
Today's Ivan is more cautious: he fears the thought might take root in them that he is a violent madman.
Read the passage
4
Question 4. Which illness from Ivan's past do the doctors get out of him?
- Measles, when he was about ten years old
- Diphtheria, in the winter he turned six
- Correct answer: Scarlet fever, about fifteen years ago
- Typhus, caught during his school years
The questioning goes back as far as when and how he fell ill with scarlet fever fifteen years ago.
Read the passage
5
Question 5. Which relative does Ivan end up telling the doctors about?
- Correct answer: An uncle who drank hard in Vologda
- A cousin who wrote bad verse in Kiev
- A grandfather who served in the army
- An aunt who kept a little shop in Tver
Ivan reflects bitterly that instead of catching the consultant he was telling hogwash about Uncle Fyodor, who drank hard in Vologda.
Read the passage
6
Question 6. What does 'dubious' mean as used in: 'this first way appeared dubious to him'?
- Simple and easy to carry out
- Polite and suited to the room
- Exciting and hard to resist
- Correct answer: Doubtful and unwise to rely on
Dubious means doubtful; Ivan suspects that smashing things would only make him look like a violent madman.
Read the passage
7
Question 7. Which of these acts from the day before does Stravinsky NOT read out from Ivan's chart?
- Correct answer: Bursting into a stranger's apartment
- Trying to jump out of the window
- Hanging a little icon on his chest
- Calling the police for machine-guns
Stravinsky lists the icon, the fence, the candle and underwear at the restaurant, the fight, the machine-guns and the window, but not the apartment.
Read the passage
8
Question 8. Which of these events happen during Stravinsky's visit?
- Stravinsky sits on a stool while his staff remain standing.
  
  Happened
  
  Stravinsky sits down on a stool while everyone who came in with him stays standing.
- Ivan demands that Stravinsky telephone the police for him.
  
  Didn't happen
  
  Ivan never asks Stravinsky to telephone anyone; he demands to be released and says the consultant must be arrested.
- Stravinsky asks Ivan who Annushka is.
  
  Happened
  
  When Ivan says the man knew beforehand that Annushka had spilled the sunflower oil, Stravinsky simply asks who Annushka is.
- Stravinsky orders paper and a short pencil for Ivan.
  
  Happened
  
  Stravinsky tells the fat woman to give Ivan paper and a short pencil.
- Stravinsky urges Ivan to write his statement right away.
  
  Didn't happen
  
  Stravinsky advises the opposite, that Ivan not write today, though Ivan insists on writing at once.
Read the passage
9
Question 9. Why does Stravinsky ask whether Ivan will stop at his own place before going to the police?
- To find out where the poet lives in town
- Correct answer: To show he would arrive there in his drawers
- To warn him the stranger may be waiting there
- To offer to send his belongings over to him
Ivan was delivered in his drawers, so going straight to the police means arriving in them and talking about Pilate.
Read the passage
10
Question 10. What does 'charily' mean as used in: 'though charily and glumly, a whole series of questions'?
- Cheerfully and at great length
- Loudly and with open anger
- Correct answer: Cautiously and reluctantly
- Quickly and without thinking
Charily means cautiously and sparingly; Ivan answers the doctors grudgingly, giving as little as he can.
Read the passage
11
Question 11. What does Stravinsky tell the bearded assistant to try as he leaves Ivan's room?
- Bed rest and no visitors at all
- Long walks out on the balcony
- Correct answer: Oxygen and baths for the patient
- A sleeping draught and silence
On his way out Stravinsky says, 'Yes, and try oxygen... and baths.'
Read the passage
12
Question 12. What does 'iota' mean as used in: 'I don't believe one iota in that success'?
- A sudden doubt
- Correct answer: The smallest bit
- A written promise
- A lucky moment
An iota is an extremely small amount; Stravinsky does not believe at all that Ivan will succeed at the police.
Read the passage

Play it live with your class.

Put the code on the screen and students join on whatever they have.

Next: The Master and Margarita, Chapter 9: Koroviev's Stunts

Questions and answers

Question 1. What does Ivan say, ironically, when he sees the water gush into the clinic's bathtub?

Question 2. Which of these events happen during Ivan's first morning in the clinic?

Question 3. Why does Ivan reject his first plan of smashing the lamps and instruments?

Question 4. Which illness from Ivan's past do the doctors get out of him?

Question 5. Which relative does Ivan end up telling the doctors about?

Question 6. What does 'dubious' mean as used in: 'this first way appeared dubious to him'?

Question 7. Which of these acts from the day before does Stravinsky NOT read out from Ivan's chart?

Question 8. Which of these events happen during Stravinsky's visit?

Question 9. Why does Stravinsky ask whether Ivan will stop at his own place before going to the police?

Question 10. What does 'charily' mean as used in: 'though charily and glumly, a whole series of questions'?

Question 11. What does Stravinsky tell the bearded assistant to try as he leaves Ivan's room?

Question 12. What does 'iota' mean as used in: 'I don't believe one iota in that success'?