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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. Chang states that her parents are the kind that most people only dream of, and that they are all BUT WHICH of the following?

2. The Epilogue states that Japanese aviators sprayed fleas carrying plague germs over all BUT WHICH of the following cities?

3. In order to control the population after the massacre, the Japanese routinely use what as payment to the Chinese?

4. One of the diary writers in "What the World Knew" is able to take several reels of film and smuggle them out of Nanking on which date?

5. Which of Chang's friends freely donated her time to help translate a good deal of source material?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why are the leaders of the International Safety Zone Committee particularly well-suited to tell the real story of Nanking?

2. Describe the postwar differences between Japan and Germany that have allowed the Rape of Nanking to go largely unnoticed while the Holocaust is acknowledged world wide.

3. Explain the language difficulties Chang faced while finding source material for the book.

4. Why do the Japanese encourage narcotic use among the Chinese?

5. Briefly describe the medical experiments conducted by the Japanese on citizens of Nanking. How many are killed in this manner?

6. According to the Epilogue, what is one of the greatest ironies of the cold war?

7. Today, the Japanese government takes the position that any wartime reparation issues were dealt with in the San Francisco Peace Treaty in 1952. Why is this position erroneous?

8. Describe Nanking's economic situation after the massacre.

9. Describe the role of Chang's parents in the writing of this book.

10. Briefly describe the fate of Minnie Vautrin after the Nanking massacre.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

From a historical perspective, discuss the reasons why Japan was able to break Nanking in four days with 90,000 Chinese soldiers present in the city. In the discussion, deal with the issues from smallest to largest impact on the fall of the city. Include supporting material from the text.

Essay Topic 2

Compare and contrast the different methods used to rescue the Chinese population of Nanking by John Rabe, Robert Wilson, and Minnie Vautrin. Be sure to use material from the text to support the essay.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the various responses of the Chinese women in Nanking to the widespread rapes committed by Japanese soldiers. Why did so few women fight back? Be sure to include the responses of the women who found themselves pregnant afterward, and also include supporting material from the text.

(see the answer keys)

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