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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 form of government does the new ruling party in October first establish?

2. After returning to Moscow from Meliuzeievo, what does Yuri learn about his uncle, Nikolai Nikolaievich?

3. What type of school is set up in Yuri and Tonia's house?

4. Where do Lara and Pasha live in the beginning of their marriage?

5. What is Ivan's profession?

Short Essay Questions

1. How could Yuri's life have been different if he had not tried to return to Lara the night he was conscripted by the Red Army?

2. Give an example of the brutality of war that is described in Dr. Zhivago.

3. Why might people exhibit extreme behavior during a time of war that they would not exhibit in peacetime?

4. What happens when Yuri finally visits Lara at her house in Varykino?

5. Describe some of the social classes of people who are on the train and how they interact with each other.

6. Describe the type of work Yuri and his family do to survive when they first arrive in Varykino.

7. How do Yuri and his family get food and supplies for their trip to Varykino?

8. Why does Yuri choose to take his family to Varykino?

9. Why does Yura faint in the garden?

10. Describe Dr. Zhivago's actions during the war.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss Pasha's "secret identity." Why did he feel it was necessary to assume a new name and how did this decision affect the development of his character? What affect did his new identity have on his relationships and actions? Cite specific examples from the book.

Essay Topic 2

The characters in the book endure the strife of World War I as well as a civil war. Discuss how war affects their lives.

1) How does World War I affect the characters in the book? Cite specific examples.

2) How does the Russian Civil War affect the characters in the book? Cite specific examples.

3) How would Yuri and Lara's affair been different if there had been no war?

Essay Topic 3

Identify specific traumas or times of struggle that Yuri must endure in the book. How do these events affect the development of his character? How does he overcome these difficulties? What affect does his attitude have on his ability to cope with difficulty?

(see the answer keys)

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