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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.
Short Answer Questions
1. What does Lina explain to the gray-haired man?
2. Why does Elena rush to get herself and Lina clean?
3. What does Lina realize when her mother tells her to button her coat?
4. Where does the truck go from Lina's house?
5. How many people are left at the opening to Chapter 25?
Short Essay Questions
1. Who does Lina recognize on the truck and what does one prisoner do and what happens to him?
2. What happens in Vilnius?
3. What does Lina tell a gray-haired man about her drawing?
4. What does Lina keep from her mother about Kostas?
5. What are Elena, Lina and Jonas forced to do?
6. What does Lina remember about her artistic abilities?
7. What does Lina realize about her father's words about drawing?
8. What happens one day when it is Lina's turn to take the buckets for the food and water?
9. What does Lina's father say to Lina?
10. Describe the arrest of Lina's family.
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
Discuss the following:
1. What is a plot? What are the most important elements of a plot and their definition? Do all novels have a plot? Why or why not?
2. Write a brief synopsis of the plot of "Between Shades of Gray", identifying where the various elements of the plot occur (Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution or denouement). Do you find it difficult to identify the plot? Why or why not? What about the various elements of the plot?
3. Identify the major sub-plots and their elements in "Between Shades of Gray". (The subplots may not contain every element of a major plot). Do the sub-plots add to the main plot? Why or why not. Are the sub-plots interesting in and of themselves? Why or why not?
Essay Topic 2
Discuss one of the following:
1. Trace and analyze the theme of growth in "Between Shades of Gray". Consider the following questions as you write: What characters are most concerned with growth? Why? What are some symbols of growth? Symbols of rigidity? What characters seem rigid?
2. Trace and analyze the theme of courage in "Between Shades of Gray". Which characters struggle with this issue? Why? Which characters seem to possess courage? Why?
3. Trace and analyze the theme of death in "Between Shades of Gray". Consider the death of Ona's baby as an random act of nature and the death of Ona as the result of conscious violence. Consider also in your answer the death of innocence in Lina from the beginning of the book to the end.
Essay Topic 3
At one point, Lina expresses her hatred for Kretsky and her mother's reaction is immediate and painful. She grabs Lina by the arm and tells her to stop judging him. Elena says that Kretsky is "just a boy," and that no one knows what he's going through. The doctor who insists the soldiers take care of Lina and the others is able to make the demands because the soldiers are dependent on him to give the camp his approval. He makes it clear he won't do that unless they abide by his demands. Kretsky was likely punished or even killed for having alerted the doctor to the situation. His fate is not revealed. Discuss the following:
1. Is Elena's ability to not judge a matter of wisdom acquired with age, or do you think she is naturally a compassionate human being? Do you think Lina learns the lesson her mother offers about not being judgmental?
2. Does any person have the right to judge another? How does one know all the details of the other person's life enough to judge that person? Relate your answer to incidents in Between Shades of Gray.
3. There is a quote from the Christian texts that says, "Judge not lest you be judged yourself." Discuss what you think that may mean.
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