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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 does Simon tell himself not to do when he finds himself in a snowdrift and unable to move?

2. Whose uniform is being transported in the laundry that is being checked by the Germans, though the uniform goes undiscovered?

3. Who has been promoted within the SS Walther Reinhardt Division?

4. Which friend of Duno was violently killed, leading Schramm to teach Duno about medical matters?

5. German officers arrive in order to take over the villa for a ___________.

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Maria Avoni teach Simon Henley about as she takes him to his first camp?

2. Who does Mirella turn away from her property, even though she generally takes in everyone she can?

3. What is the holiday that the United States and the Germans had hoped to meet in terms of ending the war?

4. What does Renzo do once he realizes he has no one to live for now that the war is over?

5. Who is Osvaldo now driving a car for?

6. What has little Angelo Soncini realized about his position at the boarding school?

7. Why does Artur almost shoot a young boy he sees while sitting out with Renzo/Ugo?

8. By August, what is Renzo able to do after his injury?

9. Why has Jakub Landau been caught at the German checkpoint?

10. What does Renzo return to reveal to the others?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The character of Mirella is confusing at times.

Part 1: Describe the character of Mirella.

Part 2: Why do you think Mirella decides to marry Iacopo?

Part 3: What does the character of Mirella seem to say about women during this time?

Essay Topic 2

Many people who read this novel have different reactions to each of the characters, emotional reactions. While this might be absolutely valid, it also seems to color the experience of the reader.

Part 1: What is the reaction you feel when you read about Renzo?

Part 2: What is the reaction you have when you read about the character of Schramm?

Part 3: How does the emotional response to a character affect the way a reader experiences a character? Or doesn't it?

Essay Topic 3

The role of the priests in this book seems to go against what many people think about the time of the Holocaust. Many people believe that the church wasn't helpful at all--but this book suggests it may have been.

Part 1: Who are the priests who are helpful during this novel's events?

Part 2: What are some of the ways in which the priests were helpful? How does the Pope respond?

Part 3: If the priests were actually helping at this time, does this change your perception of the church? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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