View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Which characterized the German spoken in the Lager?

2. Who was Chaim Rumkowski?

3. According to Levi, why can't the "privileged" be objective?

4. What does Levi think about oppressors?

5. Why does Levi feel he is able to write on behalf of survivors?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Levi think prisoners are beyond neuroses?

2. How does Levi shock Germans after the war?

3. Explain the theory of "incommunicability."

4. Why were political prisoners envied?

5. What does Levi consider to be his mission and why?

6. Briefly describe the Nazi death camp system.

7. While clearing rubble, Levi finds a spigot with fresh water. Why was this such a big deal?

8. Why do historians need to study the stories of survivors?

9. What happeneds to people who become sonderkommandos?

10. What did the Nazis hope as the tide of war turned in 1942?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Many survivors, Levi included, tell their stories so that the world can learn from their experience. We know that genocide has happened since World War II in different parts of the world. Analyze the extent to which you think hearing survivors' stories helps prevent another atrocity.

Essay Topic 2

Describe the writing style and the tone of the book. How does it contribute to the overall impact of the book?

Essay Topic 3

Levi titles Chapter 5 Useless Violence. Do you think that violence can ever be useful? Use examples from the book and your own life to give a rationale for your answer.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 736 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample