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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. When do the Nazis declare war on Russia?

2. In 1942 what is Helmuth's last request?

3. As 1940 ends, where is it rumored that camps are being built to detain Jews?

4. When do the Gestapo come for Helmuth and Duwer?

5. In 1940 when Gerhard serves in the Reich Labor Service, what are his duties?

Short Essay Questions

1. Where do prisoners wait for their interrogations at Gestapo headquarters and how do they wait?

2. What does Herr Meins say about Helmuth's essay and the topic?

3. In 1942, what happens at 1:05 p.m. while Helmuth is in his cell?

4. What damage is done in Hamburg when British bombers bomb the city in June 1940?

5. As 1940 ends, how is the war proceeding and what rumors are heard?

6. What is it like at the train station when Helmuth and his family say good-bye to Gerhard?

7. When Gerhard comes home in 1941, what does he look like?

8. How does Helmuth feel as 1940 ends?

9. Why does Helmuth sometimes hate Gerhard?

10. Where does Gerhard go for his mandatory Reich Labor Service and what does he do?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Helmuth learns from BBC broadcasts that Germany is not truthful about the progress of the war and uses propaganda to mask Germany’s losses. What propaganda does Hitler use? How does he use propaganda to control the German people? How is propaganda used to motivate the German people into supporting the war?

Essay Topic 2

In the novel characters who demonstrate courage show their courage in different ways. Who are some of the characters who are courageous? How do they show their courage? How does courage help characters to take action in spite of the great chance of failure?

Essay Topic 3

In the flashbacks, Helmuth is three when readers first meet him. How does Helmuth mature and come of age through his experiences during the Hitler era?

(see the answer keys)

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