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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 ethnicity was Erik Vandenberg?

2. Why does Liesel steal money from Rosa?

3. Which of the following sports is Rudy most interested in?

4. How does Rosa react when she realizes Liesel is stealing from her?

5. Which nation does Max dream will eventually rise up and beat Hitler to the ground?

Short Essay Questions

1. Where does Rosa get the idea to send Liesel on all of her sales calls for the laundry business?

2. What reaction does Liesel have when she overhears someone use the word "Communist" at the bonfire?

3. Who was Erik Vandenberg?

4. What are Liesel's first impressions of Rosa and Hans Hubermann?

5. Why was Hans Hubermann asked to stay behind while the rest of his troop was sent in to battle in France during WWI?

6. How is Max greeted by the Hubermann family when he arrives on their doorstep?

7. What objects are given to the mysterious young man in Stuttgart to help him escape the city?

8. How do the citizens of Molching decide to celebrate the birthday of the Fueher?

9. How does Max escape from Stuttgard after the war breaks out?

10. What happens to Liesel's younger brother while he is on the train at the opening of the novel?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

One of the ways the Nazi soldiers sought to humiliate their Jewish prisoners was to march them in parades through the cities. First, explain what message the Nazis were sending to the villagers with the parades. From the Nazis' point of view, were the parades successful? Why or why not? Finally, explain the various reactions villagers, like Hans and Liesel, had to seeing the prisoners being paraded through their streets.

Essay Topic 2

When WWII broke out, the economy in Munich was devastated. First, describe how the Hubermann and Steiner families were directly affected by the failing economy. Then, describe how each family managed to pick themselves up by their bootstraps and survive while surrounded by the abject poverty around them.

Essay Topic 3

Adolf Hitler's book "Mein Kampf" is a very important prop in the plot of this novel. First, describe what message Hitler was trying to send to the German people with his book. Then, give at least two examples of scenes in which characters from the novel use "Mein Kampf" as a tool to aid in the fight against Hitler.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 929 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample