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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What bad habit does Abe Schmukler have?

2. What job does Sara have to support herself while she goes to night school?

3. What fraction of the children's wages does Reb give to charity?

4. Why does Sara storm out of Mashah and Moe's home in Chapter 9?

5. Why does Sara take the pail and go outside to dig through the neighbor's ashes?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Sara vow to marry an American-born man?

2. How does Bessie react to the news that Berel Bernstein will not marry her?

3. Why does Moe Mirsky continuously exchange Mashah's diamonds for different ones?

4. What does Sara's first apartment look like?

5. Why does Berel Bernstein decide to not marry Bessie?

6. How does Reb react when he finds out how Morris Lipkin makes his living?

7. Why does Zalmon wish to remarry so soon after his wife's death?

8. How does Mashah's behavior change when she falls in love with her young man?

9. Why does Sara insist that she wants to work?

10. What excuse does Bessie use in her defense when her mother comes into the house and sees the changes she makes?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Sara struggles for acceptance by those around her all throughout the story. Her family does not understand her ambitions and neither do some of her peers at work and school. Write an essay explaining the efforts Sara makes to gain acceptance from those around her. What are some of the things she tries to do to blend in with those around her? What events does she attend in an attempt to feel akin to those around her? Be sure the provide examples to support your writing.

Essay Topic 2

The people of Hester Street are for the most part, lower class immigrated families. Throughout Bread Givers class is brought up by multiple characters. The members of the Smolinsky family are constantly trying to raise themselves above the poverty line. Write an essay detailing the efforts the members of the family make to rise above being lower class. How does Reb do his part for trying to become more than lower class? What types of people does he marry the family into? How does going to college help Sara rise above the line of poverty? Use examples from the book to support your writing.

Essay Topic 3

The Torah is mentioned by Reb many times in Bread Givers. He uses it not only as a gateway for information, but as a source from which to preach. Write an essay explaining why the Torah is important to the story. What does it symbolize? In which situations does Reb use the Torah to try and educate his children? How is the Torah used to support the idea of religious fanaticism? Use examples from the book to support your writing.

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