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RS Mala Matura practice questions

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Question 1General knowledge and current affairs

Which organization is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations?

  1. The World Trade Organization Appellate Body
  2. The International Criminal Court
  3. The European Court of Human Rights
  4. The International Court of Justice Correct answer.

Explanation

The International Court of Justice is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations and sits in The Hague, settling disputes between states and giving advisory opinions. The other bodies listed are separate institutions with different mandates and are not UN principal organs.

Question 2General knowledge and current affairs

Which country currently holds the largest number of seats in the European Parliament by national quota?

  1. France
  2. Germany Correct answer.
  3. Italy
  4. Spain

Explanation

Seats in the European Parliament are allocated by degressive proportionality, and Germany has the largest national allocation because it has the biggest population. France, Italy and Spain all hold fewer seats than Germany.

Question 3General knowledge and current affairs

The Kyoto Protocol's first commitment period for greenhouse gas reductions ran over which years?

  1. 1990 to 1995
  2. 2015 to 2020
  3. 2008 to 2012 Correct answer.
  4. 2021 to 2025

Explanation

The Kyoto Protocol, adopted in 1997, set binding targets for its first commitment period from 2008 to 2012. A second commitment period was later agreed for 2013 to 2020, and the Paris Agreement replaced the framework from 2021.

Question 4General knowledge and current affairs

Who serves as the chief administrative officer of the United Nations?

  1. The President of the General Assembly
  2. The Administrator of UNDP
  3. The President of the Security Council
  4. The Secretary-General Correct answer.

Explanation

The UN Charter designates the Secretary-General as the chief administrative officer of the organization, a role that also carries major diplomatic and agenda-setting functions. The other posts are leadership roles in specific organs or programmes rather than the whole organization.

Question 5General knowledge and current affairs

Which currency is used by the majority of European Union member states that have adopted the euro?

  1. The single market unit
  2. The ECU
  3. The eurozone franc
  4. The euro Correct answer.

Explanation

The euro is the official currency of the member states that have completed convergence and adopted it, forming the eurozone. The ECU was its accounting predecessor and no longer circulates, and the other names do not exist as currencies.

Question 6General knowledge and current affairs

What does the term 'inflation' describe in macroeconomics?

  1. A fall in the value of a currency against foreign currencies
  2. A sustained increase in national output
  3. A sustained rise in the general price level Correct answer.
  4. A rise in a country's unemployment rate

Explanation

Inflation refers to a sustained increase in the general price level, which reduces the purchasing power of money over time. Changes in exchange rates, unemployment and output are distinct phenomena measured by different indicators.

Question 7General knowledge and current affairs

Which body adopts binding resolutions on the maintenance of international peace and security at the United Nations?

  1. The Economic and Social Council
  2. The Trusteeship Council
  3. The Secretariat
  4. The Security Council Correct answer.

Explanation

Under the UN Charter the Security Council holds primary responsibility for international peace and security and can adopt resolutions binding on member states. The other organs have different mandates, such as economic coordination, trusteeship or administration.

Question 8General knowledge and current affairs

Which treaty established the World Trade Organization in 1995?

  1. The Marrakesh Agreement Correct answer.
  2. The General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
  3. The Bretton Woods Agreement
  4. The Havana Charter

Explanation

The Marrakesh Agreement, signed in 1994 as the conclusion of the Uruguay Round, formally established the WTO on 1 January 1995. GATT was the earlier provisional arrangement that the WTO absorbed and extended.

Question 9General knowledge and current affairs

Which country is the world's most populous as of the mid-2020s?

  1. China
  2. Indonesia
  3. India Correct answer.
  4. The United States

Explanation

United Nations estimates indicate that India overtook China as the world's most populous country around 2023. China remains second, while the United States and Indonesia rank third and fourth respectively.

Question 10General knowledge and current affairs

Which institution sets interest rates for the euro area?

  1. The Eurogroup
  2. The European Commission
  3. The European Stability Mechanism
  4. The European Central Bank Correct answer.

Explanation

The European Central Bank, through its Governing Council, sets the monetary policy stance and key interest rates for the euro area. The other bodies deal with executive policy, finance minister coordination and crisis lending respectively.

Question 11General knowledge and current affairs

The Paris Agreement aims to limit global average temperature rise to well below which level above pre-industrial times?

  1. 2 degrees Celsius Correct answer.
  2. 1 degree Celsius
  3. 4 degrees Celsius
  4. 0.5 degrees Celsius

Explanation

The Paris Agreement commits parties to hold warming well below 2 degrees Celsius and to pursue efforts toward 1.5 degrees. The lower figures are far stricter than the agreed threshold, and 4 degrees is far beyond it.

Question 12General knowledge and current affairs

Which body of the European Union is directly elected by EU citizens?

  1. The Council of the European Union
  2. The Court of Auditors
  3. The European Commission
  4. The European Parliament Correct answer.

Explanation

The European Parliament is the only EU institution whose members are directly elected by citizens, through elections held every five years. The other bodies are composed of national ministers, appointed commissioners or appointed auditors.

Question 13General knowledge and current affairs

Which of these is a permanent member of the UN Security Council?

  1. France Correct answer.
  2. Germany
  3. Brazil
  4. Japan

Explanation

The five permanent members with veto power are China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States. Germany, Japan and Brazil are among the states that have campaigned for reform and permanent seats but do not currently hold them.

Question 14General knowledge and current affairs

A country's central bank raises interest rates sharply to fight inflation. Which effect is most consistent with standard macroeconomic theory?

  1. Consumer borrowing becomes cheaper and spending rises
  2. Government bond yields typically fall at the same time
  3. Inflation expectations immediately fall to zero
  4. Domestic demand tends to weaken and the currency may appreciate Correct answer.

Explanation

Higher policy rates raise borrowing costs, which tends to cool consumption and investment, and higher relative returns often attract capital that can strengthen the currency. The other options reverse the expected direction of these effects.

Question 15General knowledge and current affairs

Which measure is most often used to compare living standards across countries while adjusting for price differences?

  1. Nominal GDP at market exchange rates
  2. GDP per capita at purchasing power parity Correct answer.
  3. Gross national income at official exchange rates only
  4. Total export value

Explanation

GDP per capita adjusted for purchasing power parity accounts for differences in the cost of living, making cross-country welfare comparisons more meaningful. Nominal measures and export totals reflect market exchange rates and trade volumes rather than relative living standards.

Question 16General knowledge and current affairs

A Security Council resolution is adopted. Which statement about its legal effect on UN member states is accurate?

  1. It only binds the states that voted in favour
  2. It requires ratification by each national parliament to take effect
  3. It is binding on all member states when adopted under Chapter VII Correct answer.
  4. It is advisory and has no legal force

Explanation

Resolutions adopted under Chapter VII of the UN Charter are binding on all member states by virtue of their membership obligations. They do not depend on the votes of individual states, national ratification or advisory status.

Question 17General knowledge and current affairs

Which of these best describes the 'demographic dividend'?

  1. The increase in pension costs as populations age
  2. A decline in migration between countries
  3. A rise in the birth rate after a recession
  4. Economic growth potential arising from a rising share of working-age population Correct answer.

Explanation

A demographic dividend occurs when a falling dependency ratio means a larger share of the population is of working age, which can boost savings, investment and output if jobs are available. Ageing costs and falling migration describe different demographic outcomes.

Question 18General knowledge and current affairs

Which statement correctly distinguishes the IMF from the World Bank?

  1. The IMF provides long-term project loans while the World Bank manages exchange rates
  2. The World Bank sets global interest rates while the IMF regulates banks
  3. The IMF focuses on balance-of-payments stability while the World Bank funds development projects Correct answer.
  4. Both institutions only lend to private companies

Explanation

The IMF was created to support monetary cooperation and short-term balance-of-payments adjustment, while the World Bank group finances development and infrastructure projects. Neither sets global interest rates, and both primarily lend to governments.

Question 19General knowledge and current affairs

A country joins a customs union. What distinguishes it from a free trade area?

  1. Members merge their national budgets
  2. Members share a single currency
  3. Members adopt a common external tariff Correct answer.
  4. Members abolish all internal taxes

Explanation

A customs union combines internal free trade with a common external tariff, whereas a free trade area removes internal barriers but lets each member set its own external tariffs. A single currency and a shared budget go beyond a customs union.

Question 20General knowledge and current affairs

Which country has the largest economy in the world by nominal GDP in the mid-2020s?

  1. Japan
  2. Germany
  3. China
  4. The United States Correct answer.

Explanation

The United States has the largest nominal GDP, although China is the largest when measured by purchasing power parity. Germany and Japan follow as major economies but are considerably smaller.

Question 21General knowledge and current affairs

Which conflict is often cited as the trigger for the founding of the United Nations?

  1. The Second World War Correct answer.
  2. The First World War
  3. The Korean War
  4. The Cold War

Explanation

The United Nations was established in 1945 in the aftermath of the Second World War, building on the earlier League of Nations. The First World War led to the League, and the Cold War and Korean War came after the UN's creation.

Question 22General knowledge and current affairs

Under the euro convergence criteria, a member state's inflation rate must be within how much of the three best-performing member states?

  1. 3 percentage points
  2. 5 percentage points
  3. 1.5 percentage points Correct answer.
  4. 0.5 percentage points

Explanation

The Maastricht convergence criteria require inflation to be no more than 1.5 percentage points above the rate of the three best-performing member states. The other values are either too strict or too lenient relative to the treaty rule.

Question 23General knowledge and current affairs

A developing country receives a concessional loan from the IMF with policy conditions attached. Which criticism is most commonly raised about such arrangements?

  1. Concessional loans are always interest-free and therefore costless
  2. Conditionality may constrain social spending and reduce national policy space Correct answer.
  3. Conditions are set solely by the borrowing government
  4. The IMF cannot lend to low-income countries at all

Explanation

Critics argue that IMF conditionality, such as fiscal consolidation and subsidy reform, can squeeze social spending and limit a government's room to manoeuvre. The other statements misdescribe the terms, eligibility or authorship of such programmes.

Question 24General knowledge and current affairs

Which feature best explains why a free trade area needs rules of origin?

  1. To set a common external tariff for all members
  2. To prevent goods from outside members entering tariff-free through the lowest-tariff member Correct answer.
  3. To fix a common exchange rate among members
  4. To harmonize member states' income tax rates

Explanation

Because each member of a free trade area keeps its own external tariff, rules of origin determine which goods qualify for preferential treatment and prevent trade deflection through the member with the lowest tariff. A common external tariff instead defines a customs union, and tax or exchange rate harmonization are separate policies.

Question 25General knowledge and current affairs

Which body formally nominates the President of the European Commission, subject to approval by the European Parliament?

  1. The Court of Justice of the EU
  2. The European Parliament itself
  3. The European Central Bank
  4. The European Council Correct answer.

Explanation

The European Council, composed of national heads of state or government, proposes a candidate for Commission President, taking election results into account, and the European Parliament must then elect that candidate. The other institutions have no role in nominating the Commission President.

Question 26General knowledge and current affairs

Which organization publishes the Human Development Index, which combines income, health and education into a single summary measure?

  1. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
  2. The United Nations Development Programme Correct answer.
  3. The International Labour Organization
  4. The World Bank

Explanation

The Human Development Index is an annual composite indicator released by the United Nations Development Programme in its Human Development Report. It combines life expectancy, schooling and gross national income per capita into a geometric mean, deliberately treating the three dimensions as imperfect substitutes. The World Bank and the OECD publish related statistics but do not produce the HDI.

Question 27General knowledge and current affairs

Which greenhouse gas is the most abundant long-lived contributor to human-caused warming, measured by its share of the enhanced greenhouse effect?

  1. Sulphur hexafluoride
  2. Methane
  3. Carbon dioxide Correct answer.
  4. Nitrous oxide

Explanation

Carbon dioxide accounts for the largest share of the additional radiative forcing attributable to human activity, mainly because of cumulative emissions from fossil fuel combustion and land-use change. Although methane traps far more heat per molecule over a century, its atmospheric concentration and total contribution are smaller. CO2 also persists in the atmosphere for centuries, so cumulative emissions largely determine peak warming.

Question 28General knowledge and current affairs

Which currency is used as the reference unit for most international trade in oil and other primary commodities?

  1. The Chinese yuan
  2. The Japanese yen
  3. The euro
  4. The US dollar Correct answer.

Explanation

The US dollar dominates invoicing of internationally traded commodities, including crude oil, and remains the leading reserve currency. This 'dominant currency paradigm' means that dollar movements influence global trade prices even for transactions that do not involve American firms. The euro is the second most used currency but has a much smaller share of commodity invoicing.

Question 29General knowledge and current affairs

A government wants to compare average living standards across countries with very different price levels. Which adjustment is most appropriate?

  1. Convert incomes using purchasing power parities Correct answer.
  2. Convert incomes using market exchange rates only
  3. Compare each country's inflation rate
  4. Compare nominal gross domestic product totals

Explanation

Purchasing power parities convert national accounts into a common currency while equalising the price of a representative basket of goods. This corrects for the fact that non-tradable services are typically cheaper in poorer countries, where market exchange rates understate real incomes. Market rates are appropriate for financial flows, not for comparing living standards.

Question 30General knowledge and current affairs

In a parliamentary system, what normally happens if the government loses a formal vote of confidence in the legislature?

  1. The government continues in office until its fixed term ends
  2. The government is expected to resign or call early elections Correct answer.
  3. The legislature is suspended until the next scheduled election
  4. The head of state automatically dissolves the judiciary

Explanation

A confidence vote tests whether the executive retains the support of a legislative majority. Losing it means the government no longer commands that majority, so convention or constitution requires it to resign or to seek a dissolution and fresh elections. This mechanism is a defining feature that separates parliamentary systems from rigid presidential ones.

Question 31General knowledge and current affairs

Which index is most closely associated with measuring perceived corruption in the public sector across countries?

  1. The Ease of Doing Business Index
  2. The Corruption Perceptions Index Correct answer.
  3. The Financial Secrecy Index
  4. The Global Competitiveness Index

Explanation

Transparency International publishes the Corruption Perceptions Index, which aggregates expert and business surveys of perceived public-sector corruption on a scale from 0 to 100. It measures perceptions rather than observed corruption, which is an important limitation. The other indices address competitiveness, business regulation and financial transparency respectively.

Question 32General knowledge and current affairs

Which of these best describes the role of the International Court of Justice?

  1. It authorises the use of force by member states
  2. It settles disputes between states and gives advisory opinions Correct answer.
  3. It monitors compliance with arms control treaties
  4. It prosecutes individuals accused of war crimes

Explanation

The International Court of Justice is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. It hears contentious cases between states that consent to its jurisdiction and issues advisory opinions at the request of authorised UN bodies. It has no power to try individuals, which is the task of tribunals such as the International Criminal Court.

Question 33General knowledge and current affairs

A country's population is ageing rapidly while its fertility rate stays below replacement. Which policy response most directly addresses the resulting labour shortage in the medium term?

  1. Introducing a tax on capital gains
  2. Reducing the minimum school-leaving age
  3. Raising the statutory retirement age Correct answer.
  4. Cutting public spending on pensions

Explanation

Raising the retirement age keeps older workers in the labour force longer, which directly expands the supply of labour as the working-age population shrinks. Pension cuts affect fiscal sustainability but do not by themselves increase the number of workers. Policies that expand participation, such as higher retirement ages or childcare support, are the standard medium-term response.

Question 34General knowledge and current affairs

Which statement best describes the difference between a country's gross domestic product and its gross national income?

  1. GDP is adjusted for inflation, while GNI is always nominal
  2. GNI includes net income earned abroad by residents, while GDP measures output within the territory Correct answer.
  3. GDP counts only manufactured goods, while GNI counts services
  4. GNI excludes government spending, while GDP includes it

Explanation

GDP measures the value of output produced inside a country's borders regardless of who owns the factors of production. GNI adds net primary income flows from abroad, such as profits and wages earned by residents overseas, to GDP. Countries with large overseas investments or remittance inflows can therefore have GNI well above GDP.

Question 35General knowledge and current affairs

Which of these is the main function of the World Health Organization?

  1. Setting binding tariffs on medical products
  2. Directing and coordinating international public health within the UN system Correct answer.
  3. Providing loans to governments facing balance-of-payments crises
  4. Certifying national elections in member states

Explanation

The World Health Organization is the UN agency responsible for international public health. Its mandate includes monitoring health trends, setting norms and standards, and coordinating responses to epidemics and other health emergencies. It does not lend money, set trade tariffs or observe elections.

Question 36General knowledge and current affairs

A country devalues its currency sharply. Which effect is most consistent with standard trade theory in the short run?

  1. The trade balance may worsen before improving Correct answer.
  2. Imports become cheaper in domestic currency terms
  3. Exports become more expensive for foreign buyers
  4. Domestic inflation immediately falls

Explanation

A devaluation makes exports cheaper and imports dearer in foreign currency terms, but existing contracts and slow adjustment of quantities mean the trade balance can deteriorate at first. This pattern is known as the J-curve. Over time, as volumes respond, the trade balance typically improves if demand elasticities are sufficiently high.

Question 37General knowledge and current affairs

Which body is responsible for the day-to-day enforcement of EU competition law, including large merger reviews?

  1. The European Commission Correct answer.
  2. The Court of Auditors
  3. The Council of the European Union
  4. The European Parliament

Explanation

The European Commission, through its competition directorate, investigates cartels, abuses of dominance and large mergers, and can impose fines. It acts as the central competition authority for the single market, working alongside national authorities. The Parliament, Council and Court of Auditors do not conduct these investigations.

Question 38General knowledge and current affairs

Which of these best explains why central banks are typically granted operational independence?

  1. To allow governments to borrow directly from them without limits
  2. To eliminate the need for fiscal policy
  3. To reduce the temptation to finance deficits with money creation Correct answer.
  4. To let elected officials set interest rates directly

Explanation

If politicians controlled monetary policy, they might be tempted to stimulate the economy before elections or to monetise deficits, which undermines price stability. Delegating rate decisions to independent central banks with a clear mandate helps anchor inflation expectations. Independence does not remove the need for fiscal policy or permit unlimited government borrowing.

Question 39General knowledge and current affairs

Which of these is a defining characteristic of a public good in economics?

  1. It is always provided free of charge at the point of use
  2. It is financed exclusively through income taxes
  3. It is non-rival and non-excludable in consumption Correct answer.
  4. It is produced only by state-owned firms

Explanation

A pure public good has two properties: one person's consumption does not reduce what is available to others (non-rivalry), and it is impossible or very costly to exclude non-payers (non-excludability). National defence and lighthouse services are classic examples. Because of these features, markets tend to underprovide such goods, which is why public provision or funding is often considered.

Question 40General knowledge and current affairs

In international trade law, what does the 'most-favoured-nation' principle require of a WTO member?

  1. Allowing free entry of all foreign services
  2. Granting every trading partner the best treatment it gives to any one of them Correct answer.
  3. Giving preferential access only to developing countries
  4. Applying identical tariffs to all products regardless of origin

Explanation

The most-favoured-nation principle is a cornerstone of the WTO. If a member grants a trade advantage, such as a lower tariff, to one partner, it must extend the same advantage to all other members, subject to defined exceptions such as free trade areas. This nondiscrimination rule prevents arbitrary favouritism and underpins the multilateral trading system.

Question 41Polish language and literature

Który z wymienionych utworów napisał Jan Kochanowski?

  1. Lalka
  2. Treny Correct answer.
  3. Dziady część III
  4. Zbrodnia i kara

Explanation

Jan Kochanowski jest autorem cyklu dziewiętnastu Trenów, powstałych po śmierci jego córki Urszulki. Utwór ten należy do kanonu polskiego renesansu i jest przykładem poezji funeralnej. Pozostałe tytuły wiążą się z innymi epokami i autorami.

Question 42Polish language and literature

Kto jest autorem epopei narodowej „Pan Tadeusz”?

  1. Juliusz Słowacki
  2. Zygmunt Krasiński
  3. Cyprian Norwid
  4. Adam Mickiewicz Correct answer.

Explanation

Pan Tadeusz, czyli ostatni zajazd na Litwie wyszedł spod pióra Adama Mickiewicza i ukazał się w Paryżu w 1834 roku. Jest to epopeja romantyczna przedstawiająca życie szlachty na Litwie. Autor należy do tak zwanej trójcy wieszczów.

Question 43Polish language and literature

W którym roku ukazała się drukiem „Lalka” Bolesława Prusa?

  1. 1890
  2. 1863
  3. 1901
  4. 1887 Correct answer.

Explanation

Powieść Lalka była publikowana w odcinkach w latach 1887–1889, a wydanie książkowe ukazało się w 1890 roku. W pytaniu chodzi o pierwsze wydanie zwarte, dlatego poprawna jest data 1890. Lata osiemdziesiąte to szczyt rozwoju polskiego realizmu.

Question 44Polish language and literature

Jaki gatunek literacki reprezentuje „Treny” Kochanowskiego?

  1. ballada
  2. satyra
  3. tren Correct answer.
  4. oda

Explanation

Tren to gatunek poezji funeralnej, wywodzący się z antyku, wyrażający żal po zmarłym i ukazujący jego zalety. Kochanowski rozwinął ten wzorzec, nadając mu wymiar filozoficzny i osobisty. Cykl obejmuje dziewiętnaście utworów o zróżnicowanej tematyce.

Question 45Polish language and literature

Który bohater „Lalki” jest przedstawicielem arystokracji i rywalem Wokulskiego o względy Izabeli?

  1. Julian Ochocki
  2. Doktor Szuman
  3. Ignacy Rzecki
  4. Kazimierz Starski Correct answer.

Explanation

Kazimierz Starski jest kuzynem Izabeli i typowym przedstawicielem zubożałej arystokracji, prowadzącym próżniaczy tryb życia. Jego obecność podkreśla dystans społeczny dzielący go od Wokulskiego. Postać ta służy krytyce arystokracji w powieści.

Question 46Polish language and literature

Jak nazywa się główny bohater dramatu „Kordian” Juliusza Słowackiego?

  1. Hrabia Henryk
  2. Kordian Correct answer.
  3. Konrad
  4. Gustaw

Explanation

Tytuł dramatu wskazuje wprost imię protagonisty, którym jest Kordian. Utwór powstał w 1834 roku jako odpowiedź na Dziady Mickiewicza. Bohater przechodzi przemianę od marzyciela do spiskowca.

Question 47Polish language and literature

Co oznacza termin „mickiewiczowski wieszcz”?

  1. poetę uznanego za duchowego przewodnika narodu Correct answer.
  2. autora dramatów historycznych
  3. poetę tworzącego wyłącznie utwory religijne
  4. krytyka literackiego oceniającego cudze dzieła

Explanation

W romantyzmie wieszczem nazywano poetę postrzeganego jako duchowy przywódca narodu, który wyraża jego cierpienia i nadzieje. Mickiewicz, Słowacki i Krasiński bywają określani mianem trójcy wieszczów. Termin wiąże się z przekonaniem o szczególnej misji poezji.

Question 48Polish language and literature

Która cecha jest typowa dla epopei?

  1. monolog wewnętrzny bez narratora
  2. rozległa narracja ukazująca losy zbiorowości na tle przełomowych wydarzeń Correct answer.
  3. dialog filozoficzny w formie prozy
  4. krótka forma liryczna bez fabuły

Explanation

Epopeja to obszerny utwór epicki, który ukazuje dzieje zbiorowości na tle wydarzeń przełomowych dla narodu. Cechuje ją wszechwiedzący narrator i rozbudowana fabuła. Przykładem w literaturze polskiej jest Pan Tadeusz.

Question 49Polish language and literature

Jaki związek ma tytuł „Dziady” z obrzędem ludowym?

  1. Odwołuje się do sądu szlacheckiego
  2. Oznacza święto zbiorów
  3. Nawiązuje do obrzędu przywoływania duchów zmarłych Correct answer.
  4. Opisuje ceremonię ślubną

Explanation

Dziady to ludowy obrzęd zaduszkowy, podczas którego przywoływano duchy przodków i udzielano im pomocy. Mickiewicz wykorzystał ten motyw jako ramę kompozycyjną dramatu. Obrzęd łączy elementy pogańskie i chrześcijańskie.

Question 50Polish language and literature

Który utwór jest przykładem noweli pozytywistycznej?

  1. „Nad Niemnem”
  2. „Ferdydurke”
  3. „Wesele”
  4. „Katarynka” Correct answer.

Explanation

Katarynka Bolesława Prusa to zwięzła nowela z wyrazistą puentą, podejmująca tematykę społeczną. Nowela cechuje się jednowątkową fabułą i skondensowaną akcją. Utwór wpisuje się w program pozytywistyczny.