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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Whose face is featured prominently on the floor of Isabel's boat?
(a) Joseph Stalin.
(b) Pablo Escobar.
(c) Che Guevara.
(d) Fidel Castro.

2. How many Jewish men must gather to form a minyan in order to comply with Jewish law in the holding of a bar mitzvah?
(a) At least 5.
(b) At least 10.
(c) At least 22.
(d) At least 7.

3. What is NOT among Fidel Castro's oft-repeated list of the three greatest achievements of the Cuban Revolution?
(a) Sports.
(b) Agriculture.
(c) Education.
(d) Public health.

4. When Mahmoud and his family are waiting in line to gain admission to Turkey, Mahmoud notices that none of the Syrian children are crying or performing what other action?
(a) Playing.
(b) Eating.
(c) Sleeping.
(d) Talking.

5. What do Mahmoud and his brother Waleed do when they see two boys robbing another boy of a loaf of bread?
(a) They make noise in hopes of distracting the robbers.
(b) They hide and then sneak away.
(c) They challenge the robbers.
(d) They find a policeman.

Short Answer Questions

1. To what concentration camp is Josef's father sent whee he is taken into "protective custody" (3)?

2. In what year does the telling of Josef's narrative begin?

3. The third major character focused upon within the novel's narrative is Mahmoud, a boy living in Syria. What year is it when the reader first joins Mahmoud?

4. When Mahmoud and his family meet the smuggler at the designated meeting point, when does he say the boat will leave?

5. What does Ivan want to be when he grows up?

Short Essay Questions

1. What revelation does Lito make to Isabel about Miami, Florida, at one moment in the journey?

2. Compare and contrast Josef's thoughts about the ship's full speed with Captain Schroeder's comments about the ship's full speed.

3. Of everyone in Mahmoud's family, who comes the closest to losing his or her life when the apartment is hit by a missile?

4. How does Josef feel about invisibility?

5. When Isabel and Ivan are incredulous that Lito had had many chances to leave Cuba over the years and had not done so, what reasons does Lito give for not leaving?

6. How is irony employed within the author's choice of the material that lines Isabel's boat?

7. Why do Josef and the other kids on the ship tour become uneasy when they hear some members of the crew singing "The Horst Wessel Song" (95)?

8. Why does Isabel feel awe in response to the riots in Cuba in addition to fear?

9. What happens the first two times Isabel's father tries to journey to America from Cuba?

10. What is ironic about Josef's feelings following his bar mitzvah?

(see the answer keys)

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