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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. In Chapter 15, what is the name of Helen's doctor?

2. In Chapter 10, how old was Ester?

3. In Chapter 2, from where did Rabbi Mendes come from?

4. What is the date of the letter in Chapter 13 that is a cross-written document?

5. Why does Helen say that Rabbi Mendes had a scribe?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did Isaac die?

2. In Chapter 13, why does Aaron think it would have been better for the London Jewish community to have invited Mendes to be their rabbi?

3. Why did Catherine and Mary da Costa Mendes come to speak with Ester in Chapter 10?

4. What is the one text that Aaron is able to find that Mendes published, and what is the subject?

5. Why did Catherine choose Ester to be Mary's companion?

6. In Chapter 14, what did Mendes say about Spinoza?

7. According to Mary in Chapter 16, under what circumstances might Ester marry?

8. In Chapter 15, how did Helen learn of Dror's death?

9. What does Aaron look like when Helen sees him in the rare manuscripts room in Chapter 15?

10. What did Dror tell Helen and the other volunteers in Chapter 11 about their time on the base?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Both Helen and Ester have regrets about how they have lived their lives. What regrets do the women have? How do those regrets affect their lives and how they live?

Essay Topic 2

Masada was the site of a battle between Jews and Romans. What happened at Masada? What does Masada represent in the novel?

Essay Topic 3

Ester marries Alvaro. Why do they marry? How would you describe their relationship? How is their relationship beneficial for both of them?

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