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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 day does Lina recall as she is falling asleep?

2. What does the gray-haired man notice Lina doing?

3. What do the soldiers want Elena to do?

4. What does Lina explain to the gray-haired man?

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

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Why does Elena rush her children and what is the mood when they get back on the truck?

3. Why are Ona and the bald man in danger and what do the others do?

4. How often does the train stop and for what reason?

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

6. What happens in Vilnius?

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

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

9. What does Lina keep from her mother about Kostas?

10. Where are the prisoners and what does Lina remember about Stalin's agriculture policies?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

1. What do you think are the characteristics of a successful novel?

2. Analyze and discuss Between Shades of Gray based upon the criteria you decide upon in #1 and judge if "Between Shades of Gray" is a successful novel.

3. Do you think the criteria for a successful novel should be different if it is written for adults versus young adults? Why or why not? Would most adults consider "Between Shades of Gray" a successful novel? What about young teens?

Essay Topic 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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