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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Who knocks on Helmut's door when the second bombing occurs?
(a) The neighbor's mother.
(b) Mutti.
(c) A 14 year old gunner.
(d) SS men.

2. How does Helmut react to his photos of the gypsies?
(a) He is excited about the bright colors of the gypsy clothing.
(b) He is angry that he took the pictures instead of trying to stop the SS.
(c) He is angry at the results.
(d) He is surprised at the good action shots.

3. Which of Helmut's family portraits does Papi usually prefer?
(a) Ones that show the entire family smiling and proud.
(b) Ones that hide Helmut's birth defect.
(c) Ones that include Helmut smiling.
(d) Ones that include Helmut in uniform.

4. Why is Mutti "clever" for having something on the table every night?
(a) Mutti is a busy woman with a full-time job.
(b) Mutti is a first-class chef.
(c) She is able to make dinner despite their poverty.
(d) She helps Helmut's arm get stronger.

5. How does Helmut feel about the veterans at the train station?
(a) He is starstruck and tries to speak with them.
(b) He is jealous and hates them.
(c) He recognizes that he is better off than they are.
(d) He is appalled by their actions.

Short Answer Questions

1. What occurs overnight at the church Lore and the children sleep in?

2. What runs through Helmut's mind as he looks for his parents after the bombings?

3. When does Lore begin to trust Tomas?

4. What does Helmut enjoy most about the train station?

5. How are Helmut's winters described?

Short Essay Questions

1. During one of Helmut's walks around the city, he encounters the SS collecting and trucking the gypsies away. What is Helmut's reaction to this event?

2. Helmut finally gets to join the army. What does this imply about the state of Germany at this point in the war?

3. Helmut notices the city is emptying. More people are leaving on the trains and less are returning. This is a mystery and Seiffert never explicitly offers an explanation. Why not?

4. Why is Lore's family moving around and hiding in the farm valley? From whom are they hiding?

5. Gladigau is first Papi's, then Helmut's employer. Gladigau does more than just pay his workers. How is Gladigau an important figure, especially to Helmut?

6. On the first day of their trip to Oma's, Juri twists an ankle. How does this foreshadow the rest of the journey?

7. Helmut is cast to the side with the weak during physical education. Helmut tries to "prove himself" for whom and why?

8. What changes does Lore's family go through during the war?

9. As Lore and her siblings walk on, some seem suspicious of their backgrounds but people usually help them anyway. Why do some people look at Lore's family with disdain but eventually help?

10. Helmut catalogues Berlin through his snapshots. For months, Helmut sees the emptying of the city. When Gladigau interprets the pictures, he sees Berlin as the home it always is. What does Helmut learn about photography from this experience?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,479 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample