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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. Who does Kira meet that is against the Communist Party?

2. How does Tonia describe her relationship with the food store?

3. Who joins the Communist Party?

4. Who does Irina say is trying to be "broadminded" when it comes to Victor's political choices?

5. Why does Vasili say he always wanted a son?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Pavel show disrespect for people when he returns from lunch with Morozov?

2. Why does Andrei say Kira cannot return his love?

3. How does Andrei treat Kira in Part Two, Chapters 1 - 4?

4. What happens when Kira watches a building under construction?

5. What does Katia tell Sasha one evening after Irina says she fears he will be exiled?

6. Why do students have to fill out questionnaires?

7. Why does Leo refer to himself as a "gigolo"?

8. What steps does Kira take to try to send Leo to a sanatorium?

9. What does Kira reveal to Andrei about the night he said he loved her?

10. What happens when Kira comes home after Victor's wedding party?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The characters in "We the Living" hold a variety of jobs. Choose four characters, and compare and contrast their jobs. Reflect on the value society has for these jobs, the actual work involved, the possibility for advancement, and how the job would be different if Russia were not Communist.

Essay Topic 2

Pavel plays an important role in the lives of other characters in "We the Living". Examine his role in the lives of at least three other characters. Does he influence any of their decisions? Does he help them? Does he harm them? What impact does he have in their lives? What would be different if Pavel were not in this novel? What does Pavel represent to these characters and to the novel as a whole?

Essay Topic 3

What does "We the Living" as a title mean? Think about the implications of "we" and "living". What does "we" mean in this novel? What does "living" mean? How are each represented and reflected on by the author and the characters?

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This section contains 658 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample