It has the 6th and 7th degree of the scale altered, but when you are descending it is natural again (so no alterations). Edit: I think it was aimed to prepare you to sing it, because it's difficult to go from altered back to natural, so I think it was just to learn that. Perhaps to improve your ear as well.
I know Mozart would use the melodic minor scale. It is more a "western mode", unlike the harmonic scale. I also think it may just be for harmony/composition reasons.
Mozart is said to be one of the most melodic musicians and someone who had a really good ear. :) They are not supposed to sound funny, at least compared to natural minor scales which sound funny to me :).
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.