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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. How does Lore discover the truth behind the pictures circling around Germany?

2. Who comforts Lore as she cries in bed?

3. Which character gives up their own bed for the children to sleep on?

4. What surprise does Micha learn about Opa?

5. How does Micha feel about himself?

Short Essay Questions

1. Tomas travels with the family for a long time, but once they reach the border, he wants to leave them. Why would Tomas want to leave at this point?

2. Jozef and Elena recount their experiences of the German occupation. Summarize what it is like in Belarus during WWII.

3. Jozef explains to Micha how the soldiers are able to kill the Jews without self-blame. How is this done?

4. Elena brings Micha to the place where her husband and his Opa killed the Jews. Describe Elena's reaction to the site of the killing fields. How does this reaction show who she is as a person?

5. Only Micha seems adamant on searching the truth about Opa. What is Mutti and Vati's point of view in regards to Opa?

6. Many Holocaust images are posted to spread the truth of what occurred during the war. What are the people's views in regards to the photos?

7. The children take a family picture to send to Mutti. What is Lore's reflection about the changes in her and her siblings?

8. Describe Mutti's reaction to Jochen. Why does she react this way?

9. Lore and the children keep Tomas a secret from Oma and Wiebke. Why is it not safe to tell them about Tomas?

10. What is Micha's search for the truth doing to the family?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe post-war Germany's political state and how this affects every day civilian life. How do the zones make a difference? The rations and occupation of soldiers from enemy states?

Essay Topic 2

Seiffert writes over many generations in the novel. World War II ended in 1945 yet Micha is affected in the late 1990s when he learns about his Opa. Write about how history affects the present. This paper may take one of two paths, politically or personally. Choose only one avenue.

Essay Topic 3

Helmut listens to the radio for Germany's progress. At the same time, he notices an emptying of Berlin. The two are correlated, but it is a mystery to Helmut. What is the correlation and what makes it difficult for Helmut to see how the victories abroad are tied to the city's emptiness?

(see the answer keys)

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