Estimated Reading Time: 18 min
The Adolescent MCQs
1. What is the narrator’s primary reason for writing his story?
A. To seek literary fame
B. To prove his high morals
C. To satisfy an inner need
D. To criticize his parents
2. What is the narrator’s name and age at the beginning of Part Two?
A. Versilov, twenty-four
B. Dolgoruky, nineteen
C. Sokolsky, twenty-two
D. Lambert, sixteen
3. Who is the narrator’s biological father?
A. Prince Sokolsky
B. Makar Dolgoruky
C. Mr. Versilov
D. Mr. Andronikov
4. Who is the narrator’s legal father?
A. Versilov
B. Makar Ivanovich Dolgoruky
C. Abbe Rigaud
D. General Akhmakov
5. What was the narrator’s job in Petersburg before he decided to resign?
A. To keep a sick old man amused.
B. Collegiate assessor.
C. Writer.
D. Military officer.
6. How does Versilov characterize his relationship with Arkady’s mother in the early days?
A. A calculated affair.
B. A great romance.
C. It happened “just like that.”
D. Based on true compassion.
7. What does Arkady initially suggest his mother valued in Versilov?
A. His wealth and status
B. His French and singing
C. His sincerity and piety
D. His ability to lead
8. What is the ultimate purpose of Arkady’s “idea”?
A. Self-sufficiency and power
B. Universal peace
C. To become famous
D. To expose Versilov
9. What two qualities define the attainment of Arkady’s idea, according to him?
A. Courage and money
B. Education and charm
C. Perseverance and relentlessness
D. Connections and luck
10. What does Arkady compare “real living life” to for modern man?
A. A dream
B. A grand adventure
C. Labor or service
D. A philosophical question
11. Why did Arkady stop reading books for two years?
A. Lack of time
B. Fear of disproving his “idea”
C. Financial necessity
D. He believed reading was useless
12. What was Katerina Akhmakov’s opinion of Versilov’s character?
A. He was a great hero.
B. He was too honest.
C. He was a “literary intellectual.”
D. He was a perfect gentleman.
13. What critical document does Arkady possess related to the Sokolsky inheritance?
A. Makar’s will
B. Katerina’s love letters
C. A legal letter to Andronikov
D. Versilov’s military commission
14. What shocking secret does Prince Sergei reveal about Liza?
A. She stole the document.
B. She is pregnant by him.
C. She married Makar.
D. She is a secret spy.
15. What criminal activity was Prince Sergei involved in with Stebelkov?
A. Theft from the Prince
B. Gambling fraud
C. Forgery of Railway shares
D. Blackmail
16. What was Versilov’s reaction immediately after receiving the document from Arkady?
A. He celebrated the victory.
B. He destroyed the letter.
C. He renounced the inheritance entirely.
D. He fled Petersburg.
17. How did Makar Dolgoruky react to his illness?
A. He worried about his wealth.
B. He feared death and refused help.
C. He was cheerful and serene.
D. He planned to become a monk.
18. What did Makar say was the greatest mystery?
A. The stars’ composition
B. What awaits man’s soul beyond
C. The complexity of science
D. Man’s innate goodness
19. Why did Makar leave his wife (Arkady’s mother) when she was ill?
A. He became bored with her.
B. He became a pilgrim/wanderer.
C. He joined the army.
D. He was ordered by Versilov.
20. What literary/historical figure did Arkady’s schoolmate Lambert admire?
A. Shakespeare
B. Paul de Kock
C. Paul de Kock
D. Dickes
21. What did Liza tell Arkady to convince him not to send the letter confessing Sergei’s past misdeeds?
A. It was too risky for her.
B. It would ruin his career pointlessly.
C. It was not based on fact.
D. It would offend Versilov.
22. Who attempted to take the old Prince Nikolai Sokolsky to Arkady’s apartment?
A. Liza and Versilov
B. Anna Versilov and her brother
C. Lambert and Trishatov
D. Katerina Akhmakov and Bjoring
23. Why did Anna marry the old Prince Nikolai Sokolsky?
A. She loved him deeply.
B. To secure a high social status.
C. To save him from his daughter.
D. To ensure Versilov’s inheritance.
24. What emotional state characterized Arkady when he realized he had offended Versilov violently?
A. Fury and hatred
B. Contrition and confusion
C. Blameless self-pity
D. Renewed vindictiveness
25. Which feeling does Arkady say is indispensable for “living life”?
A. Love for money
B. Lofty ideal
C. Anger at injustice
D. Pity for the poor
26. Why did Kraft commit suícide?
A. Despair over second-rate Russia
B. Shame over his actions
C. Fear of scandal
D. Loss of faith in God
27. What physical item did Versilov break in a fit?
A. A vase
B. His own walking stick
C. An icon
D. A portrait of Liza
28. What concept does Makar use to describe the existence of a high ideal coexisting with base behavior in Russians?
A. Hypocrisy
B. Nomadism
C. Breadth (of character)
D. Piety
29. How did Versilov view his own social/cultural status?
A. A European bourgeois
B. A representative of the highest Russian cultural type
C. A characterless being
D. A wandering artist
30. What was the name of the girl who committed suícide after being humiliated by a merchant and Versilov’s confusing charity?
A. Anfisa
B. Olga
C. Lidia
D. Maria
31. Where was Arkady’s mother staying while Versilov pursued Lidia Akhmakov?
A. Moscow
B. Konigsberg
C. Petersburg
D. Ems
32. Why did Arkady dislike Katerina Akhmakov’s beautiful smile?
A. It was too charming.
B. He found it mischievous and sarcastic.
C. It was overly timid.
D. It reminded him of Versilov.
33. When meeting Arkady after his recovery, what did Makar give him?
A. Advice about praying daily
B. His personal savings
C. His pilgrim staff
D. A small icon
34. How did Arkady feel about his mother after reconciling with her during his illness?
A. He felt only shame toward her.
B. He felt pure, desperate love for her.
C. He felt indifference and mild contempt.
D. He felt she was secretly scheming.
35. How did Katerina Akhmakov describe Versilov in his presence?
A. Magnificent and charming
B. A superior intelligence
C. Having something ridiculous about him
D. A great writer
36. According to Versilov, what prevents him from sitting in judgment of others?
A. He is too lazy and finds it unpleasant.
B. He is concerned about his moral regeneration.
C. He never achieves a lofty ideal.
D. He is too intelligent to judge.
37. What was the name of the German-Russian former classmate and enemy of Arkady?
A. Stebelkov
B. Ferfichkin
C. Lambert
D. Dergachev
38. What was Lambert’s proposed reward for helping Arkady marry Katerina Akhmakov?
A. A high-ranking government job.
B. Thirty thousand rubles.
C. Full forgiveness of all his debts.
D. A position as Arkady’s secretary.
Something smells fishy here!
39. What insult did Bjoring hurl at Anna Versilov during the confrontation?
A. He called her a common próstitute.
B. He called her a vile schemer and fiancée.
C. He insulted her clothes.
D. He denied she was Versilov’s daughter.
40. What action did Arkady take in the heat of the moment against Bjoring?
A. He shot him with a revolver.
B. He insulted him back.
C. He challenged him to a duel.
D. He pounced on him with his fists.
41. Where did Arkady find himself immediately following the brawl with Bjoring?
A. At Vasin’s apartment
B. Running away to Moscow
C. In a police station cell
D. At the gaming saloon
42. How does Arkady feel about his aggressive confrontation with Mrs. Prutkov and Versilov during Makar’s illness?
A. He felt triumphant.
B. He was happy to have broken the chain.
C. He regrets it to this day.
D. He felt justified in his anger.
43. Versilov claims that he and his cultural type are unique because they possess what kind of concern?
A. Financial concern
B. Universal concern
C. Selfish concern
D. Religious concern
44. What was Katerina Akhmakov’s true reason for meeting Versilov in his lodgings?
A. She wanted to prove her love.
B. She came out of charity and fear.
C. She needed the inheritance money.
D. She wanted to return the letter.
45. Why did Makar bequeath three thousand rubles to Arkady’s mother?
A. To ensure she could join him as a pilgrim.
B. As a repayment of an old debt to Versilov.
C. Because he knew Versilov was unstable with money.
D. To ensure his illegitimate children were provided for.
46. When Versilov was away, who took Arkady’s mother and sister back to Russia when they ran out of money in Konigsberg?
A. Makar Dolgoruky
B. Versilov himself
C. Mrs. Prutkov
D. Katerina Akhmakov
47. How did Mrs. Prutkov react when Arkady admitted she loved Versilov all her life?
A. She slapped him in anger.
B. She confessed and kissed him.
C. She denied it violently and fled.
D. She laughed it off contemptuously.
48. What literary work is referenced when Arkady’s mother is likened to a long-suffering beloved?
A. Woe from Wit
B. Poor Anton
C. Othello
D. Les Miserables
49. What physical feature of Arkady’s mother did Versilov realize he loved while apart from her?
A. Her hair color
B. Her gentle eyes
C. Her sunken cheeks
D. Her pale complexion
50. What does Arkady decide to seek after his feverish moment of epiphany following Makar’s talk?
A. A life of solitude
B. Revenge on his enemies
C. Beauty
D. Political power
Brief Overview
The Adolescent, which is also translated as A Raw Youth, is a novel by Fyodor Dostoevsky. It was first published in 1875. The narrative focuses on the turbulent experiences of the protagonist, Arkady Dolgoruky, an illegitimate young man.
Arkady’s primary goal is to acquire immense wealth and power, often referred to as becoming as wealthy as a Rothschild. He seeks this self-sufficiency to resolve his identity crisis. Arkady is the son of the mysterious aristocrat, Versilov, who is entangled in brutal emotional conflicts.
Arkady secretly possesses a valuable document, a letter, that relates to the widow Katerina Akhmakov. His father is currently feuding with this woman. Arkady’s family is further complicated by his half-sister, Lisa, who is involved with the dishonest Prince Sergei Sokolsky.
The situation is worsened by the greedy character Lambert, who attempts to manipulate the family for his own gain. The kind man who is Arkady’s legal father, Makar Dolgoruky, passes away during this period. In the resulting chaos, the crucial document is stolen from Arkady. The novel concludes shortly after a fight leaves Versilov unconscious.
