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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. In what year did World War I end?

2. Ida lives as a member of what race, in Chapter 3?

3. Who is Alfio?

4. What happened to Mussolini in late 1943?

5. What conference was held for the purposes of "racial planning"?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens when the monk arrives at the shelter?

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

3. How does Ida respond to the air raid sirens, beginning in 1943?

4. Who is Carulina?

5. How does Nino treat his mother when he is 16?

6. What was the situation of the Jews in 1938?

7. How does Ida respond when she learns that she is pregnant with Useppe?

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

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

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'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.

Essay Topic 2

The author includes a great deal of history with the fiction in the novel. Why does she provide so much background information? How does it affect readers' interpretation and understanding of the novel? Why? Are there details in the novel which would be less clear if this information was not provided? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

Essay Topic 3

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.

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