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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 Ona like when she undresses?

2. What are they forced to do?

3. What happens one day when Lina is sent off the train?

4. For what does Elena pay a woman in the hut?

5. What are the men in one car doing?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Lina's father say to Lina?

2. What does Lina remember about her artistic abilities?

3. What upsets Lina about being told to shower but why is she happy?

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

5. What happens in Vilnius?

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

7. Where does the truck go after Lina's family is on it and why does it go there?

8. How do Lina, Elena and Mrs. Rimas relieve the stress of the camp?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Oftentimes, a book has more of a character-driven plot rather than action driven, and oftentimes the other way. Some books seem to balance the two. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not.

5. What type of plot do you think Between Shades of Gray is? Explain your response.

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

Often, authors will write about "what they know," and sometimes knowing a little about the author makes the books more interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Research and give a brief biographical sketch of Ruta Sepetys.

2. What in Sepetys's background may have helped her in writing "Between Shades of Gray"? What may have influenced the way she depicts various characters and scenes?

3. Do you think there is always some of the author's own life in his/her novels? Why or why not? Give examples.

(see the answer keys)

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