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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. When year did Tanja die?

2. What topics did Slavenka and Evelinka's dinner party guests discuss?

3. What did apartments offer that made them "mythical objects of worship"?

4. Who was Danuta forced to support?

5. What did Tanja choose to do, following her pregnancy?

Short Essay Questions

1. Slavenka realized that, to her daughter, Barbie represented what?

2. Why did Tanja kill herself?

3. Why was soup a popular dish under the Communist rule?

4. Why was Slavenka disappointed after the fall of Communism?

5. Why were the people of the former communistic society surprised when they were allowed to own things?

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

7. How did Tanja's lover die?

8. In Communist times, what steps made up the beauty routine of Slavenka's mother?

9. Why was Slavenka concerned at the way the Communism era was depicted to tourists in East Berlin?

10. Why was it considered luxurious not to eat, following the fall of Communism?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast the relationship between Slavenka and her parents and the relationship between Slavenka and her daughter.

Essay Topic 2

Freedom of speech or expression was not allowed under Communist rule. Examine how the people in Slavenka's life were affected by this mandate.

Essay Topic 3

Slavenka mentioned feeling right-wing next to most leftist men, although she saw herself as a social democrat. Write a brief essay examining Slavenka's political views and how she related them to others.

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