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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 do the narrator and his mother do before going outside?

2. What do the two boys do?

3. What do the narrator and Friedrich think about the landlord's demand?

4. Who does the judge suggest the Nazis may turn against next?

5. What does Mr. Schneider tell the sales girl the boys can have?

Short Essay Questions

1. What first appears in this chapter and what is the context?

2. What does Friedrich do after the verdict and what is the judge's response? Why do you think Friedrich responds the way he does?

3. Describe how the window is broken. Do you think the narrator shows courage in taking responsibility for breaking the window or is lying never acceptable?

4. Why do you think the narrator is so distracted?

5. What is ominous about the image of Herr Schneider coming down the street and the news he brings?

6. Summarize what the teacher says about Jewish history.

7. What does the speaker at the meeting talk about and what is Friedrich's reaction?

8. Describe the first encounter the narrator remembers between him and Friedrich.

9. What sort of celebration is there on the first day of school?

10. Explain the situation with Frau Penk and why she gives up her position with Mrs. Schneider.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the chapter, "Conversations on the Stairs," we see the first example of the courage of the narrator's father, though he is, like most humans a mixture of seemingly conflicting emotions and behaviors. Choose one of the following questions and write a well-developed, cohesive essay using examples from the text and your research or personal experience:

1. Take one major character and show how the character is a mixture of both admirable and less-than-admirable traits. Why do you think this is so? Is anyone ever always one way or another?

2. Most of us have had the experience of doing something that was "not like us." We are fearful when we are usually brave, or vice versa. Mean when usually kind; pessimistic when usually optimistic, etc....Relate one or two incidents in your life when you did something that was not like you. Explain why you did it; whether you regret your choices, and if you would make the same choice again.

3. Choose several well-known politicians, celebrities or other persons who have done things that seemed out of character for that person, or did something completely opposite of what s/he indicated s/he intended. State the situations and analyze each situation, answering the same questions in number 2 above.

Essay Topic 2

When Friedrich and the narrator are bathed together, the narrator's mother jokes about Friedrich being Jewish. Choose one of the following questions in a well-developed, cohesive essay using examples from the text and your research or personal experience:

1. What does it mean to be Jewish? Is it a cultural, racial, or religious designation...or some combination of the three?

2. What contributions have the Jewish people made to humanity over the last 1000 years?

3. Compare and contrast the major beliefs of the Jewish faith with Christianity.

Essay Topic 3

There are six major characters in this story. Choose one of the following questions in a well-developed, cohesive essay using examples from the text and your research or personal experience:

1. Compare and contrast Friedrich with the narrator.

2. Compare and contrast Herr Schneider with the narrator's father.

3. Compare and contrast Frau Schneider with the narrator's mother.

(see the answer keys)

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