View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How old is Kira?

2. Who else is traveling the same way Kira and Leo are?

3. Where do Leo and Kira often escape?

4. Who is Leo's father?

5. What does Sonia tell Kira how to do?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Kira realize, after becoming more comfortable with her living conditions, about Communism?

2. Why does Maria hide her handkerchiefs?

3. How might Kira's family feel in the first three chapters?

4. Why does Kira have Andrei drop her off near her parents' apartment?

5. What does Kira pretending to be a prostitute reveal about her?

6. What does Kira forget to do because she is too busy thinking about Leo?

7. Why does Kira fear for Leo's safety after their second meeting?

8. What happens between Kira and the British woman?

9. How does Kira's family respond to her goal of becoming an engineer?

10. What makes Andrei different from many other Communist supporters?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The characters in "We the Living" hold a variety of jobs. Choose four characters, and compare and contrast their jobs. Reflect on the value society has for these jobs, the actual work involved, the possibility for advancement, and how the job would be different if Russia were not Communist.

Essay Topic 2

At the conclusion of "We the Living", Kira tries to escape. Who else tries to escape in this novel? Describe their attempts and outcomes. Why does each character try to escape? What does their escape and outcome represent?

Essay Topic 3

Consider the many romantic relationships at play in "We the Living". Compare and contrast three of these relationships. What is each member's purpose in the relationship? Is the relationship a success or a failure? What impact does the relationship have on others? What does each relationship reflect about life in Russia at this time?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 579 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample