View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Under Communist rule, what was the purpose behind the Croatian phone system?

2. Why was Ulrike put in prison?

3. In the 1970's, what personal hygiene item did Slavenka's family notably do without?

4. What kind of party did Slavenka and Evelina host together?

5. Why did the Croatian government watch Slavenka?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why was Slavenka assigned a Censor?

2. Under the Communist rule, why did the young people of Eastern Europe have little hope for a better life?

3. Why did the Communists prevent women from wearing make-up?

4. What lie did Slavenka tell her daughter, regarding comfortable toilet paper and other basic amenities?

5. What pained Slavenka in a memory of her grandmother?

6. When Zsuzsa got a divorce, what inequality between her and her husband was she concerned with?

7. When Eastern European women had problems, who did they blame?

8. What did Eastern Europe have to fight for, following the fall of Communism?

9. Why was Slavenka worried about some of the things she taught her daughter?

10. Why did the new president of Croatia create private booths to pay bills?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The lack of hope is theme that runs throughout the book. Write an essay examining the lack of hope in one of the following people:

1) Tanja.

2) Slavenka.

3) Andrea.

Essay Topic 2

After Communism fell, basic items such as food became abundant in both variety and availability. In what interesting ways did this abundant lifestyle affect the people of Eastern Europe?

Essay Topic 3

When Slavenka bought a fur coat, she felt guilty but decided to wear it on principle.

1) Why did she feel guilty?

2) What did the coat symbolize?

3) Why principles inspired her to wear it anyway?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 567 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample