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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. How does Manya combat her discouragement?

2. Where does Manya go to escape from her troubles?

3. What does the Curies' doctor warn Marie of?

4. Why is Manya always chosen to answer the inspector's questions?

5. What does Marie discover?

Short Essay Questions

1. What has happened to Marie's health and what caused these effects?

2. What does Marie create to help with the war and where does she get the funds for these projects?

3. What is Monsieur Sklodovska's new position and how does he feel about the position?

4. Which of the children is studying medicine and why does this cause the other girls to show envy?

5. What does Mademoiselle Mayer believe about Manya and what does she do to Manya because of this belief?

6. What do the students at Marie's school do that could be considered dangerous?

7. Where does Manya go to school and what is different about this school?

8. Whose research has Pierre been watching and what did that research yield?

9. How do Manya's employers treat Manya and how does Manya feel about the children and her job?

10. How does Marie treat the German physicists after the war?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What role did the Russian occupation of Poland play a role in Marie's young life? Do you think that she would have continued on with her discoveries had this oppression not existed? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Throughout the novel, there appear to be different antagonists in Marie's life. Do you believe this is accurate? Do all people have different antagonists as they age and their life progresses? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

How is the theme of poverty described and developed throughout the novel? Do you feel that Marie ever overcomes true poverty? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 625 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample