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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. Why was the narrator sent to Komjaty?

2. What did Mother prepare for Father's visit?

3. What part of Christmas disappointed Piri?

4. Why wasn't Babi impressed that Piri was a favorite of her teacher?

5. How did the war affect Piri's father's position?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Piri's departure from Komjaty.

2. Describe Piri's family's friendship with Mrs. Gerber.

3. Why did Piri's mother express concern over Rozsi?

4. Describe Piri and Iboya's encounter with the armed young men.

5. What bad news did Farenc deliver during one visit?

6. Discuss Farenc's return to Babi's farm.

7. What was strange to Piri about Babi's distrust?

8. What happened when Piri's mother inquired into sending the girls to America?

9. How did current events affect the Passover holiday?

10. How did Piri communicate with her family in Beregszasz?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is missing from this book? What should have been covered or presented that was not? What is the effect of this absence? Describe an element that ought to have been covered, and explain why it would have made the book stronger.

Essay Topic 2

How does the calendar of Jewish and Christian holidays give structure to 'Upon the Head of a Goat'? How does Piri's family celebrate the holidays, and how are their celebrations affected by the war?

Essay Topic 3

How does Piri handle the fact that her parents were repeatedly asked to send her away from the war, but did not--and paid the price with their own lives? How does Piri overcome the guilt that comes with having survived something the others did not? Even if the guilt is not explicitly mentioned, if you guess that it's there, how does it change your reading of the memoir?

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This section contains 680 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample