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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 name of the friend in Berlin that Bruno recalls of his three “best friends for life” in Chapter Seventeen: "Mother Gets Her Own Way"?

2. What language does Gretel tell the Fury she can speak in Chapter Eleven: "The Fury"?

3. How is the weather described when Bruno waked up in the beginning of Chapter Nineteen: "What Happened the Next Day"?

4. For how long does Bruno say he and Shmuel have been meeting and talking to one another in Chapter Eighteen: "Thinking Up the Final Adventure"?

5. What does Bruno tell Shmuel he wants to be when he grows up in Chapter Thirteen: "The Bottle of Wine"?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Bruno learn about Pavel from Maria in Chapter Thirteen: "The Bottle of Wine"?

2. What instructions does Bruno’s father give to Bruno and his sister on the evening that the Fury comes to dinner in Chapter Eleven: "The Fury"?

3. What lead to Bruno’s “haircut” in Chapter Sixteen: "The Haircut"?

4. What does Bruno learn about Shmuel’s life on the other side of the fence in Chapter Twelve: "Shmuel Thinks of an Answer to Bruno's Question"?

5. How does Bruno’s father finally figure out what happened to Bruno in Chapter Twenty: "The Last Chapter"?

6. How does Bruno’s family respond to his disappearance in Chapter Twenty: "The Last Chapter"?

7. How does Gretel’s character evolve in the narrative? What leads to the biggest changes in Gretel’s character?

8. How does Bruno feel about leaving Out-With in Chapter Seventeen: "Mother Gets Her Own Way"?

9. How is the setting where Shmuel’s family lived in the ghetto described in Chapter Twelve: "Shmuel Thinks of an Answer to Bruno's Question"?

10. How does Bruno recall the evening that the Fury came to dinner in Chapter Eleven: "The Fury"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the history of the Auschwitz concentration camp under Nazi rule. When was the concentration and extermination camp established? How many Jews, Poles, and other individuals were killed at Auschwitz? How is Auschwitz depicted in The Boy in the Striped Pajamas?

Essay Topic 2

Analyze and discuss the character of Gretel in The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. What is Gretel’s relationship like with her brother? How old is Gretel? What characteristics stand out the most about her character? How does Gretel’s character evolve throughout the novel?

Essay Topic 3

Analyze the character of Lieutenant Kotler in The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. How old is Kotler said to be? How is his appearance described? Why does Bruno dislike this character? Who in Bruno’s family shows admiration for Lieutenant Kotler? What happens to this character?

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