The Family Romanov: Murder, Rebellion and the Fall of Imperial Russia

Multiple Choice and Long Answer questions create ideal opportunities for whole-text review, unit exam, or summative assessments.

Multiple Choice

1. What is the author’s purpose in comparing the life of the Romanovs with that of others in Russia?

A) To compare the happiness of the royals with that of those who suffered

B) To describe the attitudes of the wealthy as compared to their poorer citizens

C) To ensure the royals’ perspectives might be considered

D) To emphasize the disproportionate distribution of wealth in Russia

2. What is the impact of increased literacy in Russia at the turn of the century?

A) There is a shift in religious attitudes that make way for Rasputin.

B) More citizens realize they are being mistreated.

C) The people can now read the goings-on of the palace.

D) They can understand the propaganda that is spread about Nicholas.

3. What event causes the Russian people to lose faith in Nicholas II?

A) The coronation disaster

B) October Manifesto

C) Bloody Sunday

D) Alexei’s weakness

4. What does Philippe’s statement, “…you will have another friend like me who will speak to you of God,” foreshadow in the book?

A) The birth of Alexei

B) The Romanov’s rise to sainthood

C) The arrival of Rasputin

D) The separation of church and state

5. What is the best reason why Nicholas II is considered a poor leader?

A) He will not fight with his army in the Great War.

B) He turns a blind eye to the suffering of Russian citizens.

C) He puts too much stock in what Rasputin wants.

D) He is afraid to be the strong leader his father was.

6. How does Fleming compare the Romanov children to other children in Russia?

A) The Romanovs are not allowed to grow up, while the poor grow up too fast.

B) The royal family and the poor have different lifestyles, but there is no visible difference between them.

C) The poor are freer to move about because they are not isolated like the Romanovs.

D) The royal family suffers the consequences of Nicholas II, while there is no accountability for the poor.

7. Why does Nicholas react with more restrictions when the people of Russia ask for freedom?

A) He does not have a relationship with his people.

B) He is given poor guidance from the people around him.

C) Empress Alexandra refuses to relinquish control of the country.

D) He is attempting to be the ruler his father thought he should be.

8. Overall, how might someone characterize Rasputin’s efforts on behalf of the royal family?

A) Helpful

B) Self-serving

C) Miraculous

D) Enlightened

9. What is the most detrimental result of Alexei’s disease of hemophilia?

A) It causes the royals to isolate themselves from their people.

B) It creates tension, as the people realize there may not be an heir.

C) The people revolt because they see it as a weakness.

D) It causes mistrust between the people and the empire.

10. How does the emperor often respond to difficulties in his empire?

A) He gives his duties to other leaders.

B) He aggressively attacks opposing forces.

C) He acts as though difficulties don’t exist.

D) He asks for advice from his counselors.

11. What is the best reason why Rasputin’s relationship with the royal family is viewed as problematic?

A) He is believed to have control of the empire.

B) He is frequently drunk and unruly.

C) He is not good at predicting outcomes.

D) He is known for being a lecher.

12. What was Lenin’s motive for moving the Romanov family from their location in Siberia?

A) He wants to humiliate them further.

B) He is afraid the Red Army will assassinate them.

C) He does not want them close to the capital city.

D) He does not want the Romanovs to escape justice.

13. What is ironic about Lenin’s ideal government over the people?

A) The people are unhappy with the division of land.

B) The people are still starving and more restricted than before.

C) There is suffering because the people work long hours in the factories.

D) The nobles are still not forced to work with the peasants.

14. How do the deaths of the Romanov children compare to that of Rasputin?

A) They are all determined to continue living.

B) They are all rumored to have escaped.

C) They both seem difficult to kill.

D) They die in drastically different ways.

15. What is the most probable reason Nicholas II is cheerful in the final days of his life?

A) He feels unburdened after the removal of his responsibilities.

B) He tries to make the most of a bad situation.

C) He does not care much for his people’s plight.

D) He is wholly unaware of the difficulties surrounding him.

Long Answer

Compose a response of 2-3 sentences, incorporating text details to support your response.

1. Why do excerpts from sources other than the Romanovs in this book cast a drastically different picture of life compared with that of the Romanovs themselves?

2. What lessons can be learned from the story of the Romanovs and the importance of protecting human rights?