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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 are the escaped women able to cross the border out of Nazi Germany?

2. What happens to Kovály's mother on arrival at the concentration camp?

3. In 1947 and early 1948, from what does Kovály isolate herself?

4. What does Kovály see while walking by a river that brings the war to a personal conclusion?

5. How long is a typical workday in the camp?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Margolius have to say in his court statements?

2. What complaint does Marta have about Vlada when Kovály met her?

3. What does Kovály notice about the confessions issued by people arrested by the Communists?

4. Where does Kovály find work in 1946?

5. What happens to Kovály's family at Auschwitz?

6. What is life like for Kovály in the ghetto?

7. What happens to the people who return to Prague from concentration camps after the war?

8. What is said to have been the main topic of discussion for out of work Czechs after the war?

9. Of what does Kovály discover the politicians wives are fearful?

10. After Margolius' death, why does Kovály worry that she would be arrested?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the motif of fear and terror in "Under A Cruel Star." Of what is Kovály and the citizens of Czechoslovakia fearful? How is their fear conveyed to others? How does Kovály experience the fear of others? How does this fear affect her? Who is terrorizing Czechoslovakia and why? How are they spreading terror?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss Kovály's first husband, Rudolf Margolius. How do they meet? What are Margolius' defining character traits? What is his job? What are his political beliefs? Why is he arrested? Why is Kovály's marriage to Margolius strained? Of What is Margolius accused? How does he die?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the motif of escape in "Under A Cruel Star." Describe Kovály's escape from the Nazis. How does she do this and is she successful? How does she later escape from occupied Czechoslovakia and where does she go? How does she feel about leaving her homeland?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 822 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample