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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. About how big is the hut in which Lina the others live?

2. What does Lina tell her mother about people in the other cars?

3. What does Lina's mother do with the family photos?

4. What month do the soldiers come to Lina's home?

5. What does a grouchy woman in the group that Elena's family is in say?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens one day when it is Lina's turn to take the buckets for the food and water?

2. Before the train leaves, does Andrius do and who goes with him?

3. What does Lina tell a gray-haired man about her drawing?

4. What is Lina thinking about as the story opens?

5. What are Elena, Lina and Jonas forced to do?

6. Describe the arrest of Lina's family.

7. What does Lina notice as the train is pulling away from the station?

8. Where do the prisoners arrive and where is Lina's family assigned?

9. What does Lina remember about her artistic abilities?

10. What does the bald man say about Hitler, and what does Lina think about it?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why not? Does "Between Shades of Gray" have a happy ending? Discuss.

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of "Between Shades of Gray" and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why "Between Shades of Gray" is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Titles often play a vital role in making a person decide to read a particular book. Discuss the following:

1. Fully explain why you think "Between Shades of Gray" is titled as such. Do you think it is the best title for the book? Why or why not? Can you think of a better title? Why would you choose it?

2. How important is a title in influencing you to consider reading a book? Explain your answer.

3. Do you think a title needs to have direct relevance to a book's content? Explain your answer.

4. Have you ever read a book that when you finished, you do not understand the relevance of the title? Does it discourage you from "trusting" that particular author again?

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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