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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 is revealed at the end of the chapter about Edith, the woman in the photograph?

2. What is the woman's name?

3. What does Maria do that David would like to do?

4. What does Maria ask David to do?

5. Who does David credit for his escape?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Giovanni respect David?

2. What does David find out about a woman named Edith Fengel.

3. Why does David now believe the man kept him in the concentration camp, only to take care of him and eventually let him go?

4. What does David say in his letter to Carlo?

5. What is the significance of David touching Maria?

6. Explain David's conversation with God when he realizes the farmer has bolted the door, and his resulting revelation.

7. Explain what happens to King.

8. What does David realize about King's actions?

9. Why does Giovanni's wife want David to leave?

10. Explain why David asks God to spare King, and kill him instead.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Foreshadowing is used extensively throughout the novel to help indicate future events. Choose two examples of foreshadowing, and discuss how these examples indicate events to occur within the novel. Do you think the author uses foreshadowing effectively? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Throughout the book, David shows himself to be clearly different than other boys. Pick two ways in which David is different, and discuss them in depth. What are these differences? How are they depicted in the novel? What do these differences stem from? Can David overcome them, or does he need to? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

At one point in the novel, David learns about his conscience, as he debates about whether to return to the woman in town to take care of her baby, or whether perhaps by doing so, he would endanger the child. Explain his dilemma, the reasons for his concerns, and his resulting decision. What lesson does David learn about doing what it right?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,034 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample