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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 was Andrea's typical mental state?

2. Under Communism, who frequently used the Croatian phone system?

3. Where did Ulrike meet her husband?

4. How old was Ulrike when she met Slavenka?

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

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. Why was Slavenka disgusted by the idea of natural make-up when she saw it in the United States?

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

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

6. Why did Slavenka have to learn of Ulrike's past from a friend rather than Ulrike?

7. Why did the state keep an eye on Slavenka?

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

9. What were the living conditions for those living under communist rule?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

When Slavenka was growing up, Communism was the only life she knew When it fell she was optimistic but afraid.

1) For Slavenka, what was it like living under Communism rule?

2) How did her life change when Communism falls?

3) How did Eastern Europe change, following the fall?

Essay Topic 2

Although many of the women in the book were married, they were not in happy relationships. Write an essay supporting or refuting the following statement, citing examples from the text: Many of Slavenka's friends were unhappy in their relationship due to the inequality between men and women.

Essay Topic 3

Once communism fell, there was still much unrest and disorganization in the cities it once ruled. Write an essay examining the effect of this change on one of the following topics:

1) The citizens.

2) The buildings.

3) The culture.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 539 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample