Question

night 2 - \lying down was not an option\ - questions

1. according to the german officers, which two commands will result in being shot if not obeyed?

1. describe what happens with mrs. schachter. what does her treatment show about human nature.

1. what information do the transportees receive in exchange for a gold watch?

1. how are mrs. schachter’s words prophetic?

night 3 - \the beloved objects\ - questions

1. what happens to elie wiesel’s family immediately after entering birkenau?

1. make an inference - why are elie and his father advised to lie about their ages?

Explanation:

1. *From Night Section 2:*
2. The German officers warn that anyone who does not stay inside the cattle car or who tries to escape will be shot.
3. Mrs. Schachter, separated from her husband and sons, has a breakdown on the cattle car, screaming repeatedly about seeing "flames" and a "fire." The other passengers first try to comfort her, then grow angry and beat her to silence her. This shows that when people are trapped in extreme, life-threatening fear, they will turn on those who disrupt their fragile attempt to cope, prioritizing their own fragile calm over empathy.
4. A transportee gives a German officer his gold watch in exchange for the confirmation that the destination is a labor camp (not a death camp).
5. Mrs. Schachter's screams about fire and flames are prophetic because when the train arrives at Auschwitz-Birkenau, the prisoners see the flames and smoke from the crematoria, where people are being burned alive.
6. *From Night Section 3:*
7. Immediately upon entering Birkenau, Elie's family is split up. Elie and his father are sent to the men's line, while his mother and younger sister Tzipora are sent to the women's line; this is the last time Elie sees them alive.
8. Elie is told to lie and say he is 18 (instead of 15), and his father to lie and say he is 40 (instead of 50). Prisoners and guards know that the Nazis kill children, elderly, and anyone unfit for hard labor. Lying about their ages makes them seem like they are strong enough to work, which will save them from being sent immediately to the crematoria.

Answer:

1. Section 2, Question 1: The two commands are staying inside the cattle car and not attempting to escape; disobeying either leads to being shot.
2. Section 2, Question 2: Mrs. Schachter has a breakdown, screaming about fire; passengers beat her to silence her. This shows that extreme fear can make people abandon empathy to preserve their own fragile sense of control.
3. Section 2, Question 3: They receive the information that they are being taken to a labor camp.
4. Section 2, Question 4: Her words are prophetic because the train arrives at Auschwitz-Birkenau, where the crematoria produce the fire and smoke she screamed about.
5. Section 3, Question 1: Elie's family is split up immediately; Elie and his father go to the men's group, and his mother and sister Tzipora go to the women's group (and are later murdered in the crematoria).
6. Section 3, Question 2: They are advised to lie because the Nazis kill people who are too young or too old to perform forced labor. Lying makes them appear fit to work, which will save them from immediate death in the crematoria.