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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 is Schramm dying from, though Renzo decides he can help him to life long enough to return to see his family?

2. Who is the one-armed son who is not taken off to war to fight with the Army?

3. What will happen to any Jews who do not surrender by the indicated date of September 28, 1943?

4. Why was Schramm's sister institutionalized by her family when she was a child?

5. What does the farmer who is sheltering the Brosslers show them?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Werner Schramm compare war to misdiagnosed tuberculosis?

2. What does Werner Schramm apologize for when he finally runs into Osvaldo?

3. What does Santino tell the Blums to do in order to save themselves from the Germans?

4. What are some of the things that Adolf is afraid of at the beginning of the manuscript which may have led to his own sense of purity?

5. What does Maria Avani do in order to distract the soldiers from noticing their ignition wires from their motorcycles are being stolen?

6. When Duno comes looking for Leto Girotti, what do Renzo and Osvaldo tell Duno to do?

7. What is Doctor Werner Schramm looking for in the small village of Porto Sant' Andrea?

8. How does Schramm travel through German checkpoints?

9. Why did the bells at the church suddenly begin to ring?

10. What are the new names of Lidia and Renzo, respectively?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Children also seem to play a minor, yet significant role in the story. They seem to be giving the story a subtext which is speaking more to the themes of the story.

Part 1: Who are some of the children mentioned?

Part 2: What were the fates of the children who were mentioned?

Part 3: What do you think the author is saying about youth and about new life?

Essay Topic 2

Renzo is a fascinating character, always taking another side in the conflict, trying to remain away from the politics of the time.

Part 1: What are some of the roles Renzo plays within the conflict?

Part 2: Why doesn't Renzo take a side when it comes to the political arena?

Part 3: Does Renzo's noncommittal seem to be a good thing or a bad thing for others in the story? Why?

Essay Topic 3

The bravery of the people in this story in relation to their choice of hiding people is certainly something that makes readers consider their own courage in this sort of situation.

Part 1: What did the families in this story give up in order to shelter Jews? What did they risk?

Part 2: Why did the families in this story do what they did?

Part 3: Do you think you might be able to take the same risk in today's times? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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