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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. Who does Mr. Schneider meet on the landing?

2. For whom does the narrator's grandfather work?

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

4. What does Friedrich tie around his neck?

5. Why does the Nazi demand that Friedrich and the narrator leave?

Short Essay Questions

1. Summarize what the teacher says about Jewish history.

2. What does the narrator say when Herr Schneider asks him about the Jungvolk and how does Herr Schneider respond to the narrator's reply?

3. How does the narrator describe the Jewish Sabbath dinner at Friedrich's home? What does this indicate to the reader?

4. How does the teacher demonstrate his sympathy for the Jews and for Friedrich in particular?

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

6. What does this scene about the broken window portend?

7. What is the landlord's reason for telling the Schneiders they have to vacate and does the reason seem fair?

8. Describe the proceedings in the court and their implications.

9. Do you think Herr Schneider should have listened to the narrator's father about leaving Germany?

10. What may be foreshadowing a future of terror and death for Jews?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The chapter titled "The Movie" is very significant in understanding how the German people came to be active Jew persecutors or at the very least placidly compliant in the slaughter and persecution of Jews. 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. Research the movie Sweet Jew and do a critical analysis of the content.

2. Research the history of the German film industry from its internationally acclaimed status in the early part of the 20th century to its decline in quality when it began being used by the Nazi party for the dissemination of propaganda. Write an essay chronicling the changes.

3. How are movies still used to support and promote certain political or social agendas? Write an essay discussing this topic.

Essay Topic 2

In the chapter titled "The Swimming Pool," Friedrich returns to the pool, offering to tell the police about the thief, but is rebuffed. Answer the following questions and write a well-developed, cohesive essay using examples from the text and your research or personal experience:

1. What happens to Friedrich while he is checking out from a day at the pool? What do you think is the reason for the attendant's vitriolic response to learning Friedrich is a Jew?

2. Why do you think Friedrich would be so careless about his claim check given the things that are going on around him and the fact that his id clearly shows he is Jewish?

3. Why do you think Friedrich returns to try to help the boy whose bike is stolen?

4. Would you have returned to try to help the police and boy recover the bike? If it were your bike, would you want useful information even if it were from someone you disliked?

Essay Topic 3

The chapter "Reasons" is very important in understanding much of what happens later in the book and also in understanding why so many Jewish people did not flee Nazi Germany when they had the chance. Answer the following questions and write a well-developed, cohesive essay using examples from the text and your research or personal experience:

1. What are the reasons Herr Schnider gives for not leaving Germany? Are they valid?

2. Do you think, given the things that have already happened to the Schneiders, that Herr Schneider is being rationale in thinking that because it's the 20th century, things like genocide do not occur anymore?

3. Are modern governments (those in the 20th and 21st centuries) any less prone to wholesale genocide than any other era? Give specific examples and details to support your stance.

4. Is it fair for Herr Schneider to expect his teenage son to be as philosophical about persecution as Herr Schneider?

(see the answer keys)

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