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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. Who were three of the original survivors of the revolution of whom Winston saw a picture?

2. What is the last thing the dark-haired girl does before departing from Winston in Part 2, Chapter 1?

3. What is Parsons collecting money for in Part 1, Chapter 5?

4. For whom is Winston writing his diary?

5. How much does it cost for a nip of gin at the canteen?

Short Essay Questions

1. Doublethink is believing that something is true when you know it is false. Do you really think that doublethink is possible? Can you find any examples of doublethink in the real world?

2. Winston feels the worst things about life in Oceania are not its "cruelty and insecurity," but "its bareness, its dinginess, its listlessness." Why might he feels this way?

3. When Winston was young, he and his family had to take shelter in a subway station because London was being attacked. An old man was crying, "We didn't ought to have trusted them." Who should not have trusted?

4. What does Part 1, Chapter 1 show the reader about the quality of Oceania's services and products?

5. Why will no Party woman wear perfume?

6. Explain Julia's attitude towards the Party. What does this reveal about her character?

7. What is the difference between Winston and Julia's feelings about their future?

8. What do the Parsons children want to go see in Part 1, Chapter 2? What do you think of them?

9. Who was comrade Ogilvy, and what was he like? How did he supposedly die?

10. Why does the Party turn a blind eye to prostitution? What type of sex will it not allow?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

It can be said that Winston is tragically flawed due to his continued defiance of the rules of Oceania. His actions will eventually lead to his downfall.

Think deeply about yourself and your actions. Do you know someone who has a tragic flaw, or do you yourself have one? Write an essay explaining the flaw, why you consider it to be a problem, some examples demonstrating it, and how you think you or the other person can change to fix the flaw. Remember to keep within the definition of "tragic flaw," and avoid simply writing about something that you don't like about yourself or another person.

Essay Topic 2

The slogan of the Oceania's government is "WAR IS PEACE. FREEDOM IS SLAVERY. IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH." Any act of independent thought, even writing a diary, are punishable by death. Explain the difference between life in America and life in Oceania. Are there any similarities? In your conclusion, write about some ways in which the American people can ensure that future governments do not abuse citizens like in Nineteen-Eighty-Four.

Essay Topic 3

Limits on power are often referred to as "checks and balances." Write an essay on this subject, touching upon:

1) The checks and balances that exist in the U.S. Constitution.

2) Some examples of checks and balances that have succeeded or failed.

3) Your vision of what the ideal system of checks and balances would look like.

(see the answer keys)

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