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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 were Eichmann and Hoss born?

2. Which of the following is NOT something that survivors have a particularly hard time listening to people complain about?

3. Who was Hans Biebow in relation to Chaim Rumkowski?

4. Which characterized the German spoken in the Lager?

5. What does Levi think about power?

Short Essay Questions

1. Briefly describe the Nazi death camp system.

2. Levi often characterizes survivors as being privileged. What does he mean by this?

3. According to Levi, why do oppressors suppress memories?

4. What is Primo Levi's theory about judging any people associated with the lagers?

5. Why does Primo Levi write about his experiences?

6. According to Levi, which memories seem to be universal?

7. Briefly describe the life of Chaim Rumkowski.

8. Explain the theory of "incommunicability."

9. What was the classic militiamen defense that Eichmann and Hoss used?

10. Why did survivors not feel the happiness at liberation that is portrayed in literature and movies?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the writing style and the tone of the book. How does it contribute to the overall impact of the book?

Essay Topic 2

Why do the Nazis need or want prisoners in the lagers to be collaborators? Discuss different kinds of collaborators and how they benefited the Nazi agenda.

Essay Topic 3

Levi writes this book hoping to receive letters that help him answer the question of whether or not Germans can be understood. Do you think Levi gets his answer? Do you think Germans can be understood for their role in the Holocaust?

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