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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. In Chapter 13, what new information does Lara give Yuri?

2. In Chapter 15, what does Lara help organize in Moscow?

3. Tonia tells Gordon and Dudorov a story about having to leave Mongolia with her mother. Why did she and her mother have to leave so suddenly?

4. What book do Gordon and Dudorov discuss at the end of the epilogue?

5. What is the name of the washing woman that Gordon and Dudorov speak with?

Short Essay Questions

1. Pasternak ties the love story in Dr. Zhivago to a reference to Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. How are the two romantic tragedies similar?

2. Describe Yuri's death and funeral.

3. What do Yuri and Lara do when they hear a rumor that the Executive Committee plans to arrest them?

4. Why does Yuri choose to compare the drops of blood in the snow with rowan berries?

5. What could the rowan tree symbolize?

6. Describe the rowan tree.

7. How does Yuri react to Strelnikov's return?

8. Describe Yuri's relationship with Vasia.

9. What might have been done to prevent Pamphil's insanity?

10. Lara and Yuri discover they share a common nemesis. Who is this person and what has he/she done to them?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does Yuri's relationship with Tonia differ from his relationship with Lara? What are his motivations in developing each relationship? What influence does each relationship have on his life?

Essay Topic 2

In the book, character and events seem to coincidentally occur at just the right (or wrong) time. What role does fate play in Yuri's life? What role does fate play in Lara's life? Give specific examples from the book.

Essay Topic 3

Throughout the book, Yuri is faced with many choices. Describe three major choices Yuri made and how they affected the outcome of the story. What events or characters motivated those choices? How might the story have been different had those choices not been made?

(see the answer keys)

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