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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 does Nino do, in 1943, which devastates Ida?

2. What year is it, in the novel, when Gunther is introduced?

3. What keeps Giuseppe out of the war?

4. When Gunther is introduced, he is anticipating a trip to where?

5. How does Useppe try to help Filomena's father?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens between Ida and Gunther?

2. What important object does Nino lose in 1942?

3. What happens when Gunther goes into Remo's in the first chapter?

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

5. Who is Signora DiSegni?

6. What ultimately happens to Ida's parents?

7. In what state is Carlo Vivaldi when he first arrives at the shelter in 1943?

8. How does the author set the stage for the novel's action, in the first chapter?

9. Why does Nino quit school?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Ida has a deep-seated fear of doctors and electricity, which interferes with Useppe's treatment. Why does she have these fears? Are they reasonable? Is she simply trying to protect her son, or giving into irrational fears? Why? Are these fears well-founded? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

Essay Topic 2

Ida is devastated by Nino's decision to quit school. Why does Nino decide to quit? How do his decision to quit school, and his rowdy behavior there before he quits, reflect his disdain for authority in general? Why does his decision to quit school affect Ida so deeply? What does she think will happen to him when he drops out of school? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

Essay Topic 3

Useppe's behavior changed drastically after his mother attempted to enroll him in school. Why do these changes occur? Why does Ida begin to believe that there is something wrong with Useppe? Is she right? What caused his behavioral problems? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

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