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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 Lina realize about the possibility of running?

2. What does the bald man ask Jonas to do?

3. Why does Elena rush to get herself and Lina clean?

4. How many people does Lina count in the train car?

5. What is Lina thinking about at the opening of the novel?

Short Essay Questions

1. How do Lina, Elena and Mrs. Rimas relieve the stress of the camp?

2. Who does Lina recognize on the truck and what does one prisoner do and what happens to him?

3. What does Lina remember about her artistic abilities?

4. What happens to Ona?

5. What does Lina realize about her father's words about drawing?

6. Why does Elena rush her children and what is the mood when they get back on the truck?

7. What does Lina's father say to Lina?

8. What do Lina and Elena do on their first day?

9. Describe the arrest of Lina's family.

10. What does Lina tell a gray-haired man about her drawing?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

At one point, Lina expresses her hatred for Kretsky and her mother's reaction is immediate and painful. She grabs Lina by the arm and tells her to stop judging him. Elena says that Kretsky is "just a boy," and that no one knows what he's going through. The doctor who insists the soldiers take care of Lina and the others is able to make the demands because the soldiers are dependent on him to give the camp his approval. He makes it clear he won't do that unless they abide by his demands. Kretsky was likely punished or even killed for having alerted the doctor to the situation. His fate is not revealed. Discuss the following:

1. Is Elena's ability to not judge a matter of wisdom acquired with age, or do you think she is naturally a compassionate human being? Do you think Lina learns the lesson her mother offers about not being judgmental?

2. Does any person have the right to judge another? How does one know all the details of the other person's life enough to judge that person? Relate your answer to incidents in Between Shades of Gray.

3. There is a quote from the Christian texts that says, "Judge not lest you be judged yourself." Discuss what you think that may mean.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a novel? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why not? Does "Between Shades of Gray" have a happy ending? Discuss.

2. What are three reasons to read fiction? Discuss each one in light of "Between Shades of Gray" and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why "Between Shades of Gray" is or is not successful in fulfilling the reasons you discuss.

3. Do you think reading solely for entertainment is as good a reason to read as any other? Why or why not? Can any work of fiction or non-fiction, no matter how poorly written, enlighten, teach, stimulate thought? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

1. What is foreshadowing? How many incidences of foreshadowing are in "Between Shades of Gray"? How does foreshadowing contribute to a book's suspense?

2. Discuss an example of foreshadowing in "Between Shades of Gray" including why you believe it is foreshadowing. Include examples from the book and your own life to illustrate what you think foreshadowing is and how it appears in the book and in your own life.

3. How do you think most people react to uncertainty in their lives? Use examples from "Between Shades of Gray" and your own live to support your opinion.

(see the answer keys)

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