Letters from Rifka | Short Essay Assignments

Short Essay Questions

The 60 short essay questions listed in this section require a one to two sentence answer. They ask students to demonstrate a deeper understanding of the text. Students must describe what they've read, rather than just recall it.

Short Essay Question - September 2 - February 25

1. What is Rifka doing as the novel opens?

2. What is revealed about Rifka and her family, and why they had to leave Russia?

3. What does Rifka tell Tovah about her role in the family's escape plan?

4. Why is Rifka acting as a distraction on the train?

5. What is revealed about why Rifka and her family had to leave Russia?

6. What lie does Rifka tell to the guards on the train in order to quell their...
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