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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 two boys do?

2. Who muscles past the protester?

3. When questioned as to his motives, what does the landlord reply?

4. What is Friedrich explaining to the narrator?

5. Who clears the snow?

Short Essay Questions

1. What indications are there that Friedrich and his mother enjoy a good relationship?

2. Describe Friedrich's preparations for his first visit to a meeting of the Jungvolk.

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

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

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

6. What are the indications that the narrator's family is not as well to do as Friedich's family?

7. What does the narrator's father do that is equally as courageous as what his son does in the last chapter?

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

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

10. 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?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the chapter titled, "The Teacher," Teacher Neudorf gives the students a brief account of the persecution of the Jews over the centuries. Answer the following questions and write a well-developed, cohesive essay using examples from the text and your research or personal experience:

1. Why do you think Teacher Neudort knows so much about the history of the Jews? Do you think he studied Jewish history in order to cull through the lies and propaganda of the Nazi party?

2. After reading the brief history of the Jewish people in this chapter, did it change your perception of the Jewish people? If you are Jewish, how accurate does this history seem to you and how do you feel about what Teacher Neudort says?

3. After the brief enumeration of Jewish history, Neudort asks the students how Jews could be anything but crafty and sly, when everyone wants to torment them. How can they not be avaricious and deceitful when they never know when they will be robbed and dispossessed again? Does this seem to be suggesting that Neudort believes the stereotypes about the Jewish people but seems to think the Jews are justified in their shortcomings? Can an entire group of people all be crafy, sly, avaricious and deceitful? Does Neudort in a way just add to the students' prejudice of Jews?

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

In the chapter named "Grandfather," Grandfather inspects the hands before he will shake them and the bottoms of his shoes for proper polishing. He assumes the position at the head of the table and never fails to remind Father of his failure to take care of his family. Answer of the following questions in a well-developed, cohesive essay using examples from the text and your research or personal experience:

1. How does the Grandfather attempt to control his son and his son's family? Give specific examples.

2. What do you think is the main reason for this attempt at control?

3. How do you think the grandfather's personality might be a metaphor for the "personality" of the Nazi regime?

(see the answer keys)

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