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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 does Lydia pray concerning Ginzburg?

2. What happens after a period of regular interrogations?

3. What do the wardens do for counting prisoners?

4. Why is Elvov apologizing to Ginzburg?

5. Why is Ginzburg summoned to a Party meeting?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Alexandra Alexandrovna advise Ginzburg?

2. What is the "Conveyor Belt" interrogation method and how is it used on Ginzburg?

3. Describe the situation that occurs concerning Carola Heintschke.

4. Where is Ginzburg taken and what does she remember after seeing the place?

5. Where is Ginzburg being transferred and what is significant about the watch returned to her?

6. How do the prisoners communicate in Krasin, and what disturbing piece of news does Ginzburg receive in one such communication?

7. Who are Ginzburg's new cell mates?

8. What is mentioned about the Red Tatary and why does Ginzburg threaten one prisoner in French?

9. When is Ginzburg arrested and where does she tell goodbye?

10. What do Ginzburg and her husband decide to do for the school holidays and what does she say about the people who are at the same vacation spot?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Readers learn that Kirov's assassin was a Communist. This fills Ginzburg with a sense of foreboding. It also demonstrates that the government does not have complete control over its citizens, because the assassin is a Communist. It a Communist assassinates another Communist, it further implies that there is no such thing as a loyal Communist any longer. Since a Communist has assassinated another Communist, the government is now weeding through Party members to determine loyalty.

1. Discuss the idea that if a communist kills a communist official that means that there could be other communists who are not loyal to the government. Use examples from Journey Into the Whirlwind and your own life to support your response.

2. Discuss what you think about the way Stalin responded to Kirov's death. Use examples from Journey Into the Whirlwind and your own life to support your response.

3. Discuss why the statement: it further implies that there is no such thing as a loyal Communist any longer, is an example of black and white, absolute type thinking. Use examples from Journey Into the Whirlwind and your own life to support your response.

Essay Topic 2

There are a number of interesting questions raised by Journey Into the Whirlwind. Questions that Ginzburg most likely want readers to consider and think through carefully. Discuss the following:

1. What does the term "author agenda" mean?

2. Name one idea/concept you think may have been a part of the Ginzburg' agenda. Analyze that idea throughout the book and discuss Ginzburg' probable agenda concerning that idea.

2. Do you think writers who have an agenda for writing should point it out in a preface? Why or why not?

3. How often do you think memoir is written with a clear agenda in mind by the author?

4. Research the life of Ginzburg and see if/where her life may have influenced her writing.

Essay Topic 3

1. What is foreshadowing? How many incidences of foreshadowing are in Journey Into the Whirlwind? How does foreshadowing contribute to a book's suspense?

2. Discuss an example of foreshadowing in Journey Into the Whirlwind including why you believe it is foreshadowing. Include examples from the book and your own life to illustrate your answer.

3. How do you think Ginzburg reacts to uncertainty in her life? Use examples from Journey Into the Whirlwind and your own life to support your opinion.

(see the answer keys)

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