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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 Andrius tell Lina when she sees him as she leaves Mr. Stalas?

2. What payment does the bald man ask in return for revealing the secret?

3. When are the prisoners allowed to gather wood and other materials for their camp?

4. Who is Janina?

5. From what book of the Bible is there a reference in Mrs. Rimas' letter?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What does Andrius say about his mother and why she is doing what she does?

3. Why does Elena collapse one day?

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

5. What do the prisoners learn about the Japanese and Hitler?

6. What causes Lina to appreciate the risk that some take to get food for others?

7. What is the story behind the stone that Jonas gives Andrius?

8. 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?

9. How does Andrius and a Siberian woman help save Jonas' life?

10. How do the soldiers harass and frighten the women who have been digging a large hole?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Oftentimes, a book has more of a character-driven plot rather than action driven, and oftentimes the other way. Some books seem to balance the two. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven? Action driven?

2. How do you think a plot differs if it is character driven versus action driven?

3. Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why?

4. Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character development share equal time? Why or why not.

5. What type of plot do you think Between Shades of Gray is? Explain your response.

Essay Topic 2

Many readers of fiction place themselves in the position of one character, wondering if they would do the same thing as that character. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think one of the values of literature is to serve as a reflection of oneself? Why or why not?

2. Socrates said "Know thyself." How can reading a book such as "Between Shades of Gray" help a reader to know him/herself? Do you find yourself reflecting on your own character and abilities when reading "Between Shades of Gray"? Why or why not.

3. Choose one specific incident in "Between Shades of Gray" to discuss and compare one of the characters' response to how you think you would respond.

Essay Topic 3

Often, authors will write about "what they know," and sometimes knowing a little about the author makes the books more interesting. Discuss the following:

1. Research and give a brief biographical sketch of Ruta Sepetys.

2. What in Sepetys's background may have helped her in writing "Between Shades of Gray"? What may have influenced the way she depicts various characters and scenes?

3. Do you think there is always some of the author's own life in his/her novels? Why or why not? Give examples.

(see the answer keys)

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