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. At the end of "The Train," where did the narrator state that he was returning from?

2. What did Nikishov claim was different about Kolyma? ("Chief of Political Control.")

3. What was the name of Golubev's boss in "Magic"?

4. What did the narrator state was worse than criminals who robbed him? ("Esperanto.")

5. In what year was the narrator in "The Lawyers' Plot" born?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did the narrator come to remember the story "Esperanto"?

2. What "magical powers" did Stukov have? ("Magic")

3. What did the bulldozer, in "Land-Lease," come to be used for?

4. What about the Senior Supervisor-Ministry of Internal Affairs' name impressed the narrator in "The Lawyer's Plot"?

5. Why did the narrator in "My First Tooth" state that it was easier to bear something after you write it down? ("My First Tooth.")

6. What did convicts receive as payment for keeping their mouths shut about guards beating them? ("The Chief of Political Control.")

7. Why did Praga, in "Esperanto," hack his clothing to rags?

8. According to the narrator in "The Lawyer's Plot," what were the three ways out of the mine?

9. Where did the narrator hide his money during his train ride? ("The Train.")

10. What happened at the end of "Esperanto" to the narrator"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In "Quiet," an particular irony was set up. One of the camp administrators believed that "a man will eat and in gratitude work better for the state." In what circumstances did this statement prove to be false? In what circumstances did this statement prove to be true? What was the determining factor in the truth behind the statement?

Essay Topic 2

Given the dehumanizing circumstances that the narrator relayed throughout the text, many instances of true humanity shone through. Discuss three examples where humanity won out over animalistic behavior in the text.

Essay Topic 3

The theme of survival was important in the text. Discuss the different aspects of survival as depicted throughout the text. What were the different aspects of survival? What did it mean to survive? Why were there different understandings of this term?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 727 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample