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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 does Misha say when Alma talks to him on the phone?

2. The girl tells the boy she was pregnant but never received a reply. When she assumed he was dead, what did she do?

3. Who had Leo sent excerpts to in America?

4. What makes Isaac stop as he leaves Starbucks?

5. Over what does Alma muse?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Leo notice about this copy of his book?

2. How does the reader learn most information about Zvi Litvinoff?

3. How does Leo feel right before he learns of his son's death?

4. Why is Leo surprised to see a copy of his book? How does this make him feel?

5. How does Alma first begin her search for Alma Mereminski? What is the result of this search?

6. What does Leo do after his heart attack?

7. What does Bird tell Alma about the lamed vovniks?

8. What does Zvi read to Rosa?

9. Why does Alma think that Alma Mereminski is a real person?

10. What had Isaac found of his mother's? What do these things make him believe?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

A final theme has to do with a desire for recognition and validation.

Part 1) What takes place in the story that reveals this as a theme?

Part 2) Why do the characters feel a need for recognition and validation? How can the audience relate to this?

Part 3) Do you desire recognition or validation? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Alma Singer is another narrator.

Part 1) Describe her. Why is she also a narrator?

Part 2) How do the chapters narrated by Alma compare to those by Leo?

Part 3) How does the author use parallel circumstances and relationships to connect these two characters? Is this effective? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Several literary devices are used throughout the story.

Part 1) What literary devices are used? How are they used?

Part 2) How do these devices set the mood for the story, as well as provide information to the reader?

Part 3) Are these devices necessary to this story? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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