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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 the last line of the rhyme in Part 2, Chapter 8?

2. Where does Winston think he is at the beginning of Part 3, Chapter 1?

3. What kind of pencil does O'Brien use?

4. What does O'Brien show to Winston in Part 3, Chapter 2?

5. What was smashed during the arrest of Winston and Julia?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Winston's betrayal reveal about his character? What do you think of him now?

2. What does Winston think O'Brien will say is the reason the Party seeks power?

3. Describe the forced-labor camps, according to the common criminals.

4. At the end of Part 2, Chapter 5, what does Winston realize about the Party and their orthodoxy? How does this relate to the everyday citizens of Oceania?

5. How does Winston feel about physical pain? How does this relate to what you know about Winston's character?

6. What is the significance of O'Brien's reference to Syme?

7. What are the two ultimate goals of the Party? What are they waiting for, and why?

8. How can Winston still achieve victory over the Party in Part 3, Chapter 4?

9. What do you think will happen to Winston and Julia after Part 2, Chapter 10? Do they have any hope?

10. According to O'Brien, where does reality exist?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

One of the most important warnings in Nineteen-Eighty-Four is that the past can be erased and history can be changed. "Who controls the past, controls the future: who controls the present controls the past."

Write a short essay on a real historical event about which historians disagree. Be sure to show both sides, and in the conclusion, explain what you think really happened and why.

Essay Topic 2

Oceania has been at war ever since Winston can remember. However, the country that it has been at war with has changed, and it seems that the Party wants Oceania to constantly be at war with someone. Why would a government want to have a permanent state of war? What benefits could a government get from it? Be sure to use real-world examples to back up your arguments.

Essay Topic 3

In essay format, discuss how you would have ended the story of Winston Smith. Be sure to explain:

1) Why you feel it is necessary to change the ending.

2) The insight into human nature that your ending would provide.

3) What you would have done if you were in Winston's shoes.

(see the answer keys)

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