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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 did the other prisoners think about the Sonderkommandos?

2. What does the theory of incommunicability from the 1970s state?

3. At what point did Hitler begin denying the truth?

4. Why does Levi feel he is able to write on behalf of survivors?

5. With which statement about Eichmann and Hoss would Levi agree?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Primo Levi's theory about judging any people associated with the lagers?

2. How does a totalitarian state control its citizens?

3. What did the Nazis hope as the tide of war turned in 1942?

4. Why did survivors not feel the happiness at liberation that is portrayed in literature and movies?

5. Why does Primo Levi write about his experiences?

6. While clearing rubble, Levi finds a spigot with fresh water. Why was this such a big deal?

7. What does Levi consider to be his mission and why?

8. Comment on Levi's experience with speaking/understanding German in the lager.

9. What does Levi consider to be the extreme case of collaboration?

10. Why do historians need to study the stories of survivors?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why are survivors' stories an important part of understanding the Holocaust and World War II. Why might survivors' stories not tell us the complete picture?

Essay Topic 2

Analyze Levi's situation when he finds the water spigot.

1) Do you agree with the decision he made? Why or why not?

2) What do you think you would have done in the same situation?

Essay Topic 3

Levi titles Chapter 5 Useless Violence. Do you think that violence can ever be useful? Use examples from the book and your own life to give a rationale for your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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