The Diary of a Young Girl- Questions based on Character Sketch- Study Material

A novel for class 10- English CBSE

By Anne Frank   

Notes and Study Material

Questions based on Character Sketch

1. What kind of boy was Harry? Explain.

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 What did Anne and her family thinks of Harry? Explain.                                               

 Ans. Though Anne has never been in love with Harry, she as well as her family have an L Anne had thought of him as “the nice looking boy” who had approached her shyly. She is left’ good opinion of him. Anne recalls her first meeting with Harry Goldberg as something ‘amusing’ as I ire l dye. Anne finds Harry quite sociable. Feeling flattered by his attention. No wonder, she looks forward to meeting him almost quite impressed by Harry, a boy of sixteen who can tell all kinds of amusing stories. He accompanies her to school. Anne finds him waiting for her next morning as. She is pleased,

Though Anne says that it’s Harry who is in love with him whereas she does not feel for him in the same manner; she is definitely drawn towards him. Harry pays another visit to the Franks specifically to meet Anne’s parents. Anne’s family has a good opinion of Harry.

His elder sister Margot believes that he is a decent lad. Anne agrees, but she thinks that “he is more than that.” Anne’s mother is full of praise for Harry. She thinks that Harry is a good-looking, well-behaved, and a nice boy. Anne is glad that the whole family approves of him.

2. Write a detailed character-sketch of Anne Frank as a writer.

Ans. Anne Frank began writing her diary on her thirteenth birthday and continued to record her feelings in her diary for the next two years. These were the years when her Jewish family went into hiding. For Anne, this was just an outlet for her pent-up feelings and thoughts. So, she recorded everything that happened around her from describing in detail the Secret Annexed to a character analysis of her own people. These entries, therefore, include even trivial, mundane aspects of her life. As for political reviews, she clearly lists out the restrictions laid down by the 0 Nazi decree on the Jews. Then as months roll by there is some maturity in her outlook and Anne being aware of this even points out that her diary entries were written in a variety of different moods, depending upon the atmosphere in which she lived. There is happiness, hopefulness, fears and desperation in her tone as she describes every happening. Sometimes, she even expresses whatever goes on in her mind and soul — as when she writes about her closeness with father, her dreams about her grandmother and Hamel Anne also uses figurative expressions every now and then giving her diary a literary touch.

3. Write a detailed character-sketch of Anne’s mother.

 Ans. Mrs Frank, according to Anne, was frightfully irritable and always heralded unpleasantness for Anne. According to Anne, she and her mother were the exact opposite in everything and so naturally they were bound to run up against each other. Anne found that her mother’s failings were something which was harder to bear than anything else. Her mother’s untidiness, her sarcasm and her lack of sweetness terribly affected Anne. As Anne put it, she looked at her only as a mother and she did not succeed in being one to Anne. Whatever it be, Anne always made resolutions not to notice mummy’s bad example, and see only the good side of her. Added to these, was Mrs Frank’s attachment to Anne’s sister Margot which infuriated Anne. If this was so with Anne and Margot, Mrs Frank was very supportive and understanding towards her husband. She never had any hot exchange of words with others except Mrs Van Dean. She kept cool and never interfered into other’s affairs. Being sensitive and helpful, she tried her best to cooperate with others. Perhaps because she had a better understanding of Margot that she treated her like a friend. She saw Anne as a child who needed guidelines to lead her life. As a wife and mother, she was good but only failed to prove it to Anne.

4. How can we Say that Peter Van Dan was a carefree young boy? Explain.  

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 Describe the character sketch of Peter Van Dan.

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Anne Frank liked to be in Peter’s company. Describe some of the personality traits of Peter Van Dan, who also lived in the Annexed.                                                                                      

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Write a detailed character-sketch of Peter Van Dan.

Ans. Peter was a young vibrant boy. He was the son of Mr and Mrs Van Dan. He was not very assertive like Anne. He always follows d the suggestions of his parents most obediently.

 Both Peter and Anne faced the same situations. Peter was older than Anne. Like Anne he also wanted someone to share his feeling He was a shy boy. It took him a long time to express his feelings about Anne. Sometimes he looked ahs. innocent as a child. He was a loving guy. He had complaints but never dared to put before many parents. He was healthy and. strong guy. When he was open to Anne, he frankly shared any nags with her. He was a silent fighter but sometimes he felt depressed. Once he said to Anne that he wanted to join plantations when he is free.

Overall, he was a charming and a loving boy who loved to all. Unlike his father he always. did his duties with responsibility. It was the strongest side of his character.

5. Write a detailed character sketch of Margot highlighting her relationship with Anne.

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 Develop Margot’s character in light of her attitude towards Anne’s problems.

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 What impression do you form of Margot Frank, Anne’s elder sister?  

Ans. Margot was the eldest child of Franks. She had reserved nature. She had won the confidence of her mummy. She always liked to share her feelings with her mummy. She never interfered into anyone’s matter. She kept to herself. She was a brilliant girl. She always scored good marks in her exams. She was a voracious reader.

Being the eldest child, she had got opportunity and freedom to read many books that she enjoyed very much. She was on good terms with her father too. She was kind and loving to Anne.

 Whenever necessary and required, she gave her suggestions to Anne. She was friendly with Anne. She was a silent worker. She was, in fact, a contrast to Anne. She did not speak much unlike Anne. Except for her mother, she never wished to share her feelings with anyone else, however, she wanted to get one. She once said Anne was fortunate to have a boyfriend to share her feelings with. She patiently bore the difficulties of life in hiding and never said a word of complaint. She lived an unsung life in the Secret Annexe.

6. How did Anne Frank remember her Granny in her diary? Explain.

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 Give a brief character sketch of the granny of the narrator and their relationship.

Ans. Anne was sorry for not understanding what her Granny had to suffer from. She was sorry to know how lonely her Granny must have been in spite of them. A person can be lonely even if he is loved by many people because he is still not the “one and only” to anyone.

Anne admired her Granny for she knew a terrible secret which she carefully kept to herself the whole time. Anne had special praise for her Granny for she would never have let one of them down. Whatever it was, however naughty Anne had been, her Granny always stuck up for her.

Anne was sorry for she could do nothing for her sweet Granny and she had to live a lonely life, even she had many relatives. None of her relatives turned to her in a great time of need but she never complained and passed away silently. This created a hurricane in Anne’s heart and she really felt sorry for her.

7. Write a character sketch of Mr Dassel.

 Ans. Mr Dassel was an old man and a dentist by profession. He was the room partner of Miss Anne. He never took part in the homely activities and silently did his own business.

Anne had described some of his peculiar habits using the lavatory frequently, doing exercises without giving ample consideration to difficulties that might be caused due to his acts.

He was not on good terms with Anne. There were occasions when he had arguments with Anne over his rights in the ‘Secret Annexed’.

Usually, he kept silent during mealtimes and tried to keep himself from ongoing hot discussions. He had a routine life in the ‘Secret Annexed’ and most of the time stayed stuck to his routine life.

Mr Dassel held that Anne’s work was not important. Knitting and mythology were not serious works. Once Anne requested him to allow her to work in their room twice a week in the afternoon. This was because, there was no other place to sit and work, but he denied. Mr Dassel talked to her rudely and selfishly. Ultimately, Pym discussed the matter with him; then he allowed Anne to work in the room. Overall, he was a possessive, self-centered, mean, short-tempered and egotistical person. He was thoroughly unlikeable, but an Annexed member all the same.

8. Describe Mr Otto Frank, Anne’s Father.

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 Attempt a character sketch of Otto Frank, Anne’s father.      

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 Anne Frank idolized her father. Write a brief account of Otto Frank, who also loved her a lot.

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 What do you think of Anne’s father Otto Frank from the entries made in the diary?

Ans. Mr Frank was a man of serious nature. He had the skill to adjust to the relationships and situations as per the need of time. He was able to carry all his responsibilities as a husband, as a father, as a family friend, as the head of the family and as a businessman. He loved his family very much. He was the only member of the family in which Anne Frank has shown her faith.

He looked after the need of every member of his family. Also, he was kind to others and kept himself away from all sorts of disputes. He enjoyed an amicable relationship with his wife and children. Being the leader of the family, he was never frightened of the worsening situation and gave a good fight to the difficulties.

 Mr Frank was a self-satisfied person, he wanted nothing and believed in a simple life. He never behaved like a demanding person. He knew the situation well and kept his cool. He seriously participated in homely activities. He was not an escapist. He always stood firm and determined to the compelling situations.

All this proves him a man of strong will and amicable nature.

9. Write a character sketch of Kalian alias Koophius.

Ans. Kalian alias Koophius was a friend and business associate of Mr Otto Frank. He worked in the same building where the Frank family and Van Danes were hiding. Mr Frank had met Mr Koophius in Amsterdam in 1923 when they both had business dealings there. In 1941, Mr Koophius took over Mr Frank’s place e I w*n his company otherwise, the firm would have been confiscated as a Jewish business. He had been a helpful person to these families and provided them with all help whenever they needed. It was Koophius, together with Karle, who proposed that the Franks use the back of the business building as a refuse. They helped the Franks move furniture and household items there, by stealth at might, in order to avoid detection. Anne describes him as unfailingly cheerful and by a brave person. He got seriously ill due to a stomach problem. He was also arrested y the Nazi police but later released due to his illness. And, like Bugler, he also bore the brunt of responsibility for the Frank family’s secret hiding. He was always ready to help the Frank family in the ‘Secret Annexed’. He was a nice person. In fact, he was the one who prepared the ‘Secret Annexed’ as a hiding place. He also provided the moral and psychological support. Anne liked him very much.

10. Give a character sketch of Franz Liszt as told by Anne, after her reading of the trilogy `Hungarian Rhapsody’.

Ans. The trilogy ‘Hungarian Rhapsody’ deals with the life history of the composer, virtuoso and child prodigy, Franz Liszt. In his time Liszt was not only the greatest and most famous pianist but also the greatest ladies man — right up to the age of seventy. Personally, Liszt was a fine man, very generous and modest about himself through exceptionally vain. He helped everyone. His art was everything to him, though he was mad about cognac and about women. Other traits of Liszt were that he could not bear to see tears. He was a gentleman, and would never refuse to do anyone a favour. Also, he did not care about money, loved religious liberty, and world freedom.

11. Write a character sketch of Mrs Van Dan.

Ans. Mrs Van Dan is one of the greyest characters of Anne’s diary. In Anne’s diary, she is portrayed as pushing, selfish, cunning, calculating and never content.

Not a single member of the hiding families was happy with her. It was easy to make a mistake when one had known her for a short time. She always took others as inferior to her, in her understanding of any matter. She always passed comments on the issue of upbringing their children by the Franks. She always confronted Anne and made her feel guilty for none of the wrong on her side. Mrs Frank thought her to be too stupid to waste words over her. In Margot’s view, she was an unimportant figure in the ‘Secret Annexe’. Mr Frank thought her to be too ugly. She had frequent fights with her husband. Peter never dared to cross her.

 There was some positive side of her character as well. She was a keen worker in the kitchen. She was always ready to talk. Despite all her selfishness and stinginess, one could make her give in easily, as long as one did not get on the wrong side of her.

12. Attempt a character sketch of Peter.                  

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 Write a character sketch of Peter as portrayed by Anne.                  

 Ans. Peter was a young vibrant boy. He was the son of Mr and Mrs Van Dan. He was not very assertive like Anne. He always followed the suggestions of his parents most obediently.

Both Peter and Anne faced the same situations. Peter was older than Anne. Like Anne he also wanted someone to share his feelings. He was a cool but shy boy. It took him a long time to express his feeling about Anne. Sometimes, he looked as innocent as a child. He was a loving guy. He had complaints but never dared to put them before his parents. He was a healthy and strong guy. When he was open to Anne, he frankly shared many things with her. He was a silent fighter but sometimes, he felt depressed. Once he said to Anne that he wanted to become a speculator when he would be free.

Overall, he was a charming and a loving boy who loved all. Unlike his father, he always did his duties with responsibility. It was the strongest side of his character.

13. Write a detailed character-sketch of Mr Van Dan.

 Ans. Mr Van Dan, the head of the Van Dan family, comes to stay with the Franks. His wife and son accompany him. He keeps to himself. He is rather aloof except for picking up fights with his wife.

 He exhibits self-centeredness most of the time and feels undisturbed by the condition at the `Secret Annexed’. As for passing comments on the Franks, he does not miss out on asinine hotly each bangle cues. In her diary entries, Anne frequently mentions his extensive smoking and eating habits. Cigarettes, potatoes and meat are the things that could appease him when he is When there is a shortage of these things in the `Secret Annexed’, as the situation worsens outside the hiding, and he has no cigarettes to smoke, he declares that he is feeling ill, that they don’t live well enough, and that he must have meat. He goes on to say that he must “smoke and smoke”, and have enough food. He goes on to say that the political situation or Mrs Van Dan’s moods are not as bad as the scarcity of food and cigarettes. Besides, Mr Van Dan also exhibits arrogance. He is quite naughty at times. In many respects, he is not very different from Mrs., Van Dan. He is at times, as vain as his wife.

14. Describe the character of Beep.

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 Write a detailed character-sketch of Beep.                                     

Ans. Beep was a young girl who worked in Frank’s office. She was also close to Anne. She, together with Mie, took care of the family’s daily needs when they were at the ‘Secret Annexed’. She too tried her best to keep the family in a relaxed mood. She was a practical and psychological support for them throughout. She along with Mie, brought gifts and other things whenever someone had a birthday. A gentle, warm, shy Beep, was also emotionally weak. When the Gestapo came to arrest the group in hiding, she became extremely distraught and cried like a little child. Beep was also the table companion of Anne. She was not choosy and always cleaned up the plate. Another characteristic of Beep was her dutifulness. She had to do everything by herself. She used to be sent out at least ten times a day, each time being insisted that she go the right way. This overstrains also led to a nervous fit on her. Then, Anne and others comforted her that she had to put down her foot once or twice and say that she did not have time, which also would bring down the shopping lists. Beep, on the whole, was easy to please and that pleased everyone. According to Anne, Beep was “Cheerful, good-humoured, kind and willing.”

15. Describe the character of Mie Gees.           

 Ans. Mie Gees was working under Mr Frank. She played a very important role when the Frank family was in hiding. She gave the family a good moral support. Mie brought them food and visited them in their hiding place. Whenever she came, she brought along with ration coupons, news from the outside world. This brought a fresh air for the family. Mie also played a good friend to Anne. Whenever Anne longed to talk to someone new, Mie was there for her. Mie also showed her friendliness and sociability by arranging together with Elli little gifts and surprises on birthdays and festivals. It can be said, she made the tense atmosphere relaxed by this. Once when the children at Secret Annexed wanted badly to have guests, Mie and Hank spent a night with them. She even saved the family when she claimed to the policeman that she did not know about the group in hiding. Mie’s generosity could also be seen when she attempted to secure the prisoners’ release for money, though it did not materialize. But, for Ernie, Mie could not understand what it was like to be a young girl trapped in a small attic.

16. Describe the character of Mr Gleemen and Mr Kruger as described by Anne in the diary.

Ans. Mr Gleemen was a friend and business associate of Otto Frank. He too worked in the same building where the Franks and Van Daans were hiding. He had been a helpful person to the family and provided them with all help whenever they needed. Anne describes him 05 unfailingly cheerful and extremely brave, though he got seriously ill with a stomach problem.

He too was arrested by the Nazi police but later released due to his illness. Like Koophius he too bore the brunt of responsibility for the Frank family’s secret hiding.

 Mr Weir, also called Bugler was one of Mr Frank’s and Mr Van Dan’s business associates who helped them during their hiding. He thus kept their business running. He indeed was the one who prepared the ‘Secret Annexe’ as a hiding place. He also provided the moral and psychological support. Anne liked him because, he catered to her needs, especially when he made it a point to bring one of Anne’s favourite magazines ‘Cinema and Theatre’ which greatly pleased her.

17. Describe the character sketch of Anne Frank.

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Give a pen-portrait of Anne Frank after reading her diary.          

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 Write a detailed character-sketch of Anne Frank.                                                    

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Do you think that Anne has outstanding character, which strikes everyone who knows her? Describe with reference to the novel.                                                                                       

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 What impression do you form about Anne from her diary?                              

 Ans. Anne Frank was a girl of self-confidence. She was loving and expressive. She always loved to enjoy freedom, right from her school days. She was a sociable girl. She had many friends — both boys and girls in her school days.

 The changed condition had made her a little bit demanding. She had to live the rest of her life in hide-out. This had snatched from her the joy of being young and vibrant, which people of her age naturally enjoyed. This also impacted her way of thinking about the things, situations and relationships.

She loved her daddy very much. But, she was not on good terms with her mother. She always searched for a sensible mother in her mummy but her mummy behaved with her like a friend.

 There was none to share her feelings during the hiding period. She slowly developed a friendship with Peter. This relationship was not approved by her parents. She lived a dual personality —Anne inside and Anne outside. Anne outside was revolting. Anne inside had a reason, love and affection for all.

Overall, Anne was a person good and lively. She was vibrant and optimistic. She was a brave girl who could survive tough situations.

18. Give a character sketch of Otto Frank (Anne’s father) in your own words, especially highlighting his relationship with his younger daughter.

 Ans. Mr Otto Frank was basically a man of serious nature, who had the skill to adjust himself to the relationships and situations according to the need of the time. Being a self-satisfied person, he kept his cool, at the same time participating in the homely activities at the ‘Secret Annexed’. Besides these, he is the confidant of Anne, and indeed her moral support till the time she realized her love for Peter. According to Anne, he was the only person at home with whom she could talk frankly and share her views. When she revealed to her father her closeness to Peter, he had only told her to be careful. He then acted as a father concerned about his adolescent daughter. He felt that her infatuation towards Peter was one of the symptoms of her age and it would wear off by itself. But Anne turned out to be still more mature when she started analyzing her relationship with Peter. At that time Anne felt that her Daddy had never been a support to her in her struggle because he had only tried a wrong method. Anne at that point even feels that Daddy never understood that Anne’s fight was to get the better of all problems, that he always took up an older, fatherly attitude, but was never a friend. That again had made Anne share her well-considered theories and views on life only with her diary. However, he was a great support to her as long as they were in hiding as he was patient, loving and understanding.

19. What light do the diary entries of Anne throw on the character of Mr Diesel?

 Ans. Albert Dassel is a dentist by profession who arrives at the ‘Secret Annexed’ to share their room in hiding. In his first entry into their place, Anne calls him a nice man, as they all had imagined. But actually, Anne feels uncomfortable by his entry. The reason she says it that she is not prepared to have a stranger to share her room and use her things. Secondly, she has to make some sacrifices if he stays there. So, however, she decides to make her “little offering with a goodwill.” On the first day of his arrival, Mr Dassel clarifies himself about when the charwoman comes, when he can use the bathroom or lavatory, and the like. Anne finds these as necessary, as things are not simple in a hiding place. One thing that amazed Anne about Dassel is that he seemed slow on the update, that he asked everything twice and still did not seem to remember. Anne thinks that this is because Mr Dassel is upset by the sudden change in his life. Anne also explains even the smallest details that one should take care about while in hiding, say for example, during the day one must not make noise and so on. Dassel on his part, told the inmates a lot about the outside world. Anne also mentions how she suffers the brunt of his odd personal hygiene habits, pedantic lectures and his dominating tendency towards her. In one of her entries, she also relates the amusing episode of Dassel treating Mrs Van Dan, his first patient of the ‘Secret Annexed’.

20. Describe Anne Frank as the main character and protagonist of ‘The Diary of Young Girl’.

Ans. The Diary of a Young Girl’ is a record of the diary entries made by Anne young girl of 13. Being a Jew, she and h Annexed’. As all the entries describe what Anne family move to a hiding place called the ‘Secret rote feels about her own life and the lives of others in hiding, she is the main character, the protagonist.

Anne is the central character. The reader gets to know about the life in the `Secret Annexed’ as lived, experienced, observed, analyzed an to top it all, recorded by Anne. The inhabitants of the Annexed face some problem or another. a most every day. There is the shortage of essential items for survival apart from fear of being rediscovered by the Germans. No wonder, they feel depressed, frustrated and are easily among good hearty herself consumes Valerian pills to keep depression at bay. She understands that ay ewer tot laugh. is worth ten pills, but she adds that the people in hiding have almost forgotten.

However, the protagonist, Anne Frank not only g records the sufferings of all the inmates of the Annexed, but she is also able to analyze the causes behind these sufferings. She understands most of the conflicts with a human heart.

21.  Which character in the diary other than Anne inspires you the most and why?     

Ans. Other than Anne, I find the character of Mie Gees to be very inspiring. She was working under Mr Frank. She played a very important role when the Frank family was in hiding. She gave the family a good moral support. She brought them food and visited them in their hiding place. Whenever she came, she brought along ration coupons and news from the outside world. This brought the fresh air for the inhabitants of the ‘Secret Annexed’. Mie was also a good friend to Anne.

Whenever Anne longed to talk to someone, Mie was there for her. Mie always proved to be friendly and sociable as along with Elli, she arranged little gifts and surprises on birthdays and festivals. Thus, she made the tense atmosphere somewhat relaxed. When the children at the ‘Secret Annexed’ wanted some guests, Mie and Hank spent a night with them. She even saved the family when she claimed to the policeman that she did not know about the group in hiding. Mie generosity could also be seen when she attempted to secure the prisoners’ release for money, though it did not materialize. Mie character is quite inspiring for all the readers because of all these good qualities.

22. Visualize Anne’s character as a sensitive adolescent through her ideas and thoughts mentioned in her diary?                      

 Ans. Anne is a sensitive adolescent as presented by her ideas, thoughts, and experiences that she records in her diary. Being sensitive, Anne feels quite intensely about almost all that she observes and faces in life. She often writes that there is more of unpleasantness oats Nat of rather than the pleasant things, that can make one laugh till one’s stomach begins these sad remarks about life appear in the diary after the Franks move into the ‘Secret Annexe’.

 However, Anne is not in harmony with herself and those around. She feels desperately lonely almost all the time. She writes that though there are her parents, elder sister and many friends, she still needs a true friend whom she can confide in concerning her joys and sorrows. She continuously feels that nobody understands her except Kitty, the diary.

 However, Anne has quite a few positive qualities as well. She is a skilful writer, kind, humane and understanding.

23. How can you say that Mrs Van Dan was a selfish and a self-centred woman?

Ans. Mrs Van Dan is one of the greyest characters of Anne’s diary. In Anne’s accounts, she is portrayed as pushing, selfish, cunning, calculating and never a content lady. None of the members of the hiding families was happy with her. She always took others as inferior to her in her understanding of any matter. She always passed comments on the issue of upbringing their children by the Franks. She always confronted Anne and made her feel guilty for none of the wrong on her side. Mrs Van Dan being an inmate of the Secret Annexed was supposed to cooperate with the others. But she was the one who always picked up quarrels, yelled and shouted at one or the other. She refused to wash up the pans and always chose for herself the tiniest potatoes, and sweetest mouthful and the best of everything during mealtimes.

 When Mr Van Dan decided to sell their clothes to meet their expenses, Van Deans argued with him and even grumbled the whole day. She actually wanted the money got from selling a fur coat, to get new clothes after the war. She was so selfish that she did not want to forego any of her things even for the family’s sake.

In another instance, Mrs Van Dan suggests Anne’s diary be burnt as it could be evidence of their presence in hiding to the German police. Such was her self-centred nature and her insensitivity towards others’ feelings.

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