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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 are Tomas' feelings after Jochen dies?

2. What is Micha's relationship like with his Oma as he learns more about his Opa?

3. How does Oma feel about Mutti and Vati's Nazi involvement?

4. What does Micha bring back for Elena?

5. Where do Lore and her siblings sleep regularly when they reach their destination?

Short Essay Questions

1. Lore is hesitant about Tomas when they first meet. What are Lore's feelings as time progresses?

2. Describe Micha's family dynamics.

3. 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?

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

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

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. Lore learns to question the truth and learn more from strangers. What reality does Lore have about her parents?

9. In the short amount of time Micha spends in Belarus on his first visit, he receives various receptions of his German background. Compare and contrast Andrej's and his mother's reception of Micha to the grandfather at the museum's.

10. Jochen dies from Russian soldiers shooting at him. What is the significance of his death? Why does Seiffert add this to Lore's story?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast racism during and after war. Who is harassed? In what way? Why?

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

The novel touches upon lots of judgments and racism. Compare and contrast generational differences to these issues. How do the Omas feel? How do children of the veterans feel? Grandchildren?

(see the answer keys)

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