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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 Kretsky tell Elena?

2. About whom does Lina think as they are eating?

3. What does Lina steal?

4. What does Elena learn that makes her collapse?

5. What does Jonas give Andrius?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Lina steal and how does she explain it to Andrius?

2. How do the others help Lina celebrate her sixteenth birthday?

3. How does Elena and Jonas praise Andrius and what is Lina's feeling about the praise?

4. How do the soldiers thrown out into the snow one day when Lina and Jonas are going to the kitchen and why do they eat the food immediately?

5. What does Lina observe about Andrius' mother when Lina slips away after eating her potato that Jonas brought?

6. What happens to Kretsky when the prisoners arrive at some port?

7. Describe the encounter between Kretsky and Lina at the wood pile.

8. What does Elena reveal about Kretsky?

9. What do readers learn in the Epilogue?

10. What does Elena have Lina do for Mr. Stalas, and what is Lina's response to the task?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Characters are an important part of what makes "Between Shades of Gray" interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Thoroughly discuss and analyze Lina. What are her strengths? Weaknesses? How does she contribute to the plot? Is she a sympathetic character? Is she always likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

2. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the character of Kretsky. What are his strengths? Weaknesses? How does he contribute to the plot? Is he a sympathetic character? Is he ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

3. Thoroughly discuss and analyze the character of Elena. What are her strengths? Her weaknesses? How does she contribute to the plot? Is she a sympathetic character? Is she ever likable? Never likable? Use specific examples to illustrate your ideas.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze the theme of growth in "Between Shades of Gray". Consider the following questions as you write: What characters are most concerned with growth? Why? What are some symbols of growth? Symbols of rigidity? What characters seem rigid?

2. Trace and analyze the theme of courage in "Between Shades of Gray". Which characters struggle with this issue? Why? Which characters seem to possess courage? Why?

3. Trace and analyze the theme of death in "Between Shades of Gray". Consider the death of Ona's baby as an random act of nature and the death of Ona as the result of conscious violence. Consider also in your answer the death of innocence in Lina from the beginning of the book to the end.

Essay Topic 3

Characters are an integral and important part of almost all novels. Discuss the following:

1. Compare/contrast the characters of Lina and Elena. How are they similar? How are they different? Is there a flaw in each of their personalities? Be specific and give examples.

2. Compare/contrast the characters of Elena and Andrius' mother. How do they seem different? Which do you like more? Why? Which one seems more of a well-rounded character?

3. Thoroughly analyze how three of the secondary characters in Between Shades of Gray help drive the plot and what their contribution is to the storyline. Are any of the secondary characters unnecessary? Indispensable? Which of the secondary characters are likable? Which are either unlikable or even despicable? Be specific and give examples.

(see the answer keys)

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