27. Summarize a story and/or poem from this unit. Identify the theme of the selection and explain how events and/or ideas in the story and/or poem support the theme. Be sure to include the title of the selection and the author.

Read the excerpt from elie wiesel’s all rivers run to the sea. why were those trains allowed to roll unhindered into poland? why were the tracks leading to birkenau never bombed? i have put these questions to american presidents and generals and to high-ranking soviet officers. since moscow and washington knew what the killers were doing in the death camps, why was nothing done at least to slow down their “production”? that not a single allied military aircraft ever tried to destroy the rail lines converging on auschwitz remains an outrageous enigma to me. birkenau was “processing” ten thousand jews a day. stopping a single convoy for a single night—or even for just a few hours—would have prolonged so many lives. based on the paragraph, the author would most likely agree that it is best to avoid confrontation at all costs. people need to be proactive when they witness an injustice. countries should remain neutral to keep alliances strong. moscow and washington are to be blamed for the holocaust.

3. of all the characters highlighted in the works included in this unit, which one did you relate to or identify with the most in terms of his or her struggles and conflicts? why? what was it about this character that made him or her affect you as he or she did? be sure to point to specific examples from the work to support your response.

Which statement most strongly develops a positive tone? a. i was happy when i received my first paycheck for my hand work. b. winter break is approaching quickly, and i cannot wait to go shopping for gifts. c. going to the beach is one of my favorite activities; i love surfing and paddle boarding. d. a sense of accomplishment overwhelmed me as i stepped into into the stage that sunny, glorious day of graduation.