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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 Winston buy in the junk shop?

2. The telescreen announces a reduction in what type of rations?

3. What happened to the Inner Party member with whom Julia had her first affair?

4. Why did Parsons' daughter report a man to the police?

5. Having an improper expression is called a ________.

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the significance is behind Winston's dream about his mother? How might she have died?

2. Judging by the dream Winston has about the girl with dark hair, how does he appear to feel about her?

3. Why will no Party woman wear perfume?

4. How does the dark-haired girl's note affect Winston? Has it changed his outlook?

5. Syme explains that the most important part of Newspeak is not the creation of new words, but the deletion of old words. Why might this be more important? What is the true purpose of Newspeak?

6. Who was comrade Ogilvy, and what was he like? How did he supposedly die?

7. What might the woman singing in the street symbolizes?

8. What is unusual about Winston's telescreen, and why is it important?

9. Doublethink is believing that something is true when you know it is false. Do you really think that doublethink is possible? Can you find any examples of doublethink in the real world?

10. Why doesn't Winston kill the girl with the dark hair? Who else doesn't he kill for very similar reasons?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay about the history of prostitution. The essay should focus on something specific; examples should include, but are not limited to:

1) One country's experience with prostitution.

2) Times and places where it has been legal.

3) Geisha or "comfort" women, and other women who have been forced into prostitution.

Essay Topic 2

It can be said that Winston is tragically flawed due to his continued defiance of the rules of Oceania. His actions will eventually lead to his downfall.

Think deeply about yourself and your actions. Do you know someone who has a tragic flaw, or do you yourself have one? Write an essay explaining the flaw, why you consider it to be a problem, some examples demonstrating it, and how you think you or the other person can change to fix the flaw. Remember to keep within the definition of "tragic flaw," and avoid simply writing about something that you don't like about yourself or another person.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay critiquing a political manifesto, white paper, or declaration. Be sure to explain:

1) What the document attempted to achieve, and whether or not it accomplished this goal.

2) How it has influenced society or the world.

3) Whether you agree or disagree with the paper, and why.

(see the answer keys)

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