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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 Dov want when he calls the next morning?

2. What astonishes Levi when they reach Celine's aunt's house?

3. What does Levi realize when he sees his mother crying at the school sign?

4. What is one thing Levi has with him when he goes to find Boaz?

5. Where do Levi and Boaz arrive to find a welcoming banner?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Levi calculate and decide to do?

2. What does Levi do in Boaz's room and what action does he decide to take?

3. How does Boaz act towards Levi at dinner after Levi confronts Boaz and what happens the next morning?

4. Why does Levi sneak a call to Pearl and what does he learn?

5. What story does Boaz tell the crowd at the Vietnam Memorial?

6. How does Loren respond to Levi saying he just wants Boaz to come home?

7. How is Levi surprised when they arrive at Celine's aunt's house in Edgewood?

8. What do Celine and Levi discuss about their brothers?

9. Describe Levi's conversation with Christina.

10. What does Celine say to Levi about her brother?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There are a number of interesting questions raised by The Things a Brother Knows. Questions that Reinhardt most likely wants readers to consider and think through carefully. Discuss the following:

1. What does the term "author agenda" mean?

2. Name one idea/concept you think may have been a part of the Reinhardt's agenda. Analyze that idea throughout the book and discuss Reinhardt's probable agenda concerning that idea.

2. Do you think writers who have an agenda for writing should point it out in a preface?

3. How often do you think fiction is written with a clear agenda in mind by the author?

4. Research the life of Reinhardt and see if/where her life may have influenced her writing.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss one of the following:

1. Thoroughly analyze how the setting informs the plot in The Things a Brother Knows.

2. Trace and analyze one major theme of The Things a Brother Knows. How is the theme represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

3. Trace and analyze two secondary themes of The Things a Brother Knows. How are the themes represented by symbolism? By the characters' behaviors? By the action?

Essay Topic 3

1. What is foreshadow? How many incidences of foreshadow are in The Things a Brother Knows? How does foreshadow contribute to a book's suspense?

2. Discuss an example of foreshadow in The Things a Brother Knows including why you believe it is foreshadow. Include examples from the book and your own life to illustrate your answer.

3. How do you think most people react to uncertainty in their lives? Use examples from The Things a Brother Knows and your own live to support your opinion.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,250 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample