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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 Lydia pray concerning Ginzburg?

2. What is the ultimate outcome of the party meeting?

3. How does Ginzburg view the hearings against her and others?

4. Who apologizes to Ginzburg?

5. To what does Ginzburg attribute her not signing anything that was false?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Ginzburg think things have been straightened out and what happens to throw her back into the midst of the purge?

2. Who is Secretary Abdullin and what does he ask of Ginzburg?

3. What do Ginzburg and her husband decide to do for the school holidays and what does she say about the people who are at the same vacation spot?

4. Describe the interrogation of Ginzburg by Livanov.

5. Where is Ginzburg taken and what does she remember after seeing the place?

6. What is the "Conveyor Belt" interrogation method and how is it used on Ginzburg?

7. How is Ginzburg's mother-in-law described and what does she advise Ginzburg?

8. To where is Ginzburg's case referred, and what is significant about that fact?

9. Who summons Ginzburg after Elvov's arrest; what do they want with her, and how does she respond?

10. What does Ira ask Tsarevsky to do as she and others are being transferred and what does his willingness to do so portend?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the following:

1. What do you think are the characteristics of a successful memoir?

2. Analyze and discuss Journey Into the Whirlwind based upon the criteria you decide upon in #1 and judge if Journey Into the Whirlwind is a successful memoir.

3. Do you think the criteria for a successful memoir should be different if it is written for adults versus young adults? Why or why not? Would most adults consider Journey Into the Whirlwind a successful memoir? What about young teens?

Essay Topic 2

Titles often play a vital role in making a person decide to read a particular book. Discuss the following:

1. Fully explain why you think Journey Into the Whirlwind is titled as such. Do you think it is the best title for the book? Why or why not? Can you think of a better title? Why would you choose it?

2. How important is a title in influencing you to consider reading a book? Explain your answer.

3. Do you think a title needs to have direct relevance to a book's content? Explain your answer.

4. Have you ever read a book that when you finished you do not understand the relevance of the title? Does it discourage you from "trusting" that particular author again?

Essay Topic 3

Many memoirs, and perhaps a majority, of memoirs ends on a happy note. Discuss the following:

1. Why do you think many (most?) people want what they perceive as a happy or good ending to a memoir? Explain your opinion. Do you? Why or why not?

2. What are three reasons to read memoir? Discuss each one in light of Journey Into the Whirlwind and whether or not it fulfills all three, two or one of the reasons you mention. Give examples as to why Journey Into the Whirlwind 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?

(see the answer keys)

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