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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. How does Carlo respond when encouraged to join the armed revolution?

2. Who was the Italian leader, appointed by the King, in 1943?

3. What happens to the Duce's son-in-law, in January of 1944?

4. Who arrives with a message for Carlo Vivaldi, during one of his nights at the shelter?

5. Where was the Nazi-Fascist Republic of Salo formed in 1943?

Short Essay Questions

1. What concerns does Ida have about Nino and herself, in 1940?

2. What news does Remo bring Ida, regarding Nino and the other revolutionaries, at the beginning of 1944?

3. What does Nino do for his little brother when Useppe is very young?

4. How is Ida Mancuso described, at the beginning of Chapter 2?

5. Who is Carulina?

6. What is the general worldwide trend in the war, according to the history presented in 1943?

7. What ultimately happens to Ida's parents?

8. How does Ida and Useppe's living situation change in 1944?

9. What is Carlo's stance on violence and politics, in 1943?

10. What health problem does Ida experience as a child, and how do her parents feel about it?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The narrator uses phrases of uncertainty and first-person expressions when telling the story. Why does the author choose to do this? What literary purpose does this style of writing serve? Was it an effective storytelling method? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

Essay Topic 2

Gunther only appears twice in the novel, but plays a major role. Is he a sympathetic character? Why does the author choose to mix such pitiable qualities with such a hateful persona? Are Gunther's mistakes a result of his situation, or is he an inherently bad person? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

Essay Topic 3

Ida's parents are discussed at the beginning of the novel, as well as her girlhood. Which of Ida's traits did she inherit from her parents? Which were genetic, and which were learned behaviors? Is there any way of knowing for sure? Are there any events during Ida's childhood which affect the rest of her life? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

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This section contains 850 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample