View a FREE sample

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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Alex ask Jonathan in "Letter Dated 24 December 1997?"
(a) He asks that they no longer communicate.
(b) He asks that they never criticize or praise each other's writing again.
(c) He asks that Jonathan send him more money.
(d) He asks that Jonathan stop sending money.

2. What is the relationship between "The Dial" and Safran?
(a) The Dial is Safran's great-great-great grandfather.
(b) The Dial is Safran's father.
(c) The Dial is a tradition and nothing else.
(d) The Dial is Safran's good luck charm.

3. Who did Grandfather "murder?"
(a) Safran.
(b) Father.
(c) Herschel.
(d) Anna.

4. "The Dial, 1941-1804-1941" goes back and forth between two stories. Who are the two stories about?
(a) Jonathan's grandfather and Brod.
(b) Yankel and Brod.
(c) Alex and Little Igor.
(d) Safran and Zosha.

5. What happens to the Gypsy girl after Safran gets married?
(a) She continues to have an affair with Safran.
(b) She is captured by the Nazis.
(c) She leaves town.
(d) She commits suicide.

Short Answer Questions

1. When does the old woman want out of the car?

2. What is in all of the boxes in the old woman's house?

3. In "What We Saw When We Saw Trachimbrod or Falling in Love," who says "I don't want to hear any more?"

4. Who asks "how are your books arranged" (231)?

5. Who does Safran go see after he finds the Gypsy girl in his home?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Grandfather ask Alex for money and what does Alex say in return? Will Alex give him the money?

2. In "Letter Dated 12 December 1997," what does Alex think about Jonathan's writing about Safran? Is this hypocritical? What has Alex learned?

3. Alex asks Jonathan to finish writing the chapter "An Overture to Illumination." Why? Does Jonathan do it? How can you tell?

4. What does Jonathan tell Alex about his grandmother while waiting for Grandfather and the old woman? What do Jonathan and his grandmother have in common?

5. How does the Kolker change in "The Dial, 1941-1804-1941"?

6. The old woman tells that she must live near Trachimbrod as "punishment" (189). According to her, what is she being punished for? What does this mean to you?

7. Why does Alex send back the money that Jonathan sent him? Why is he angry?

8. "Letter Dated 17 November 1997" revolves around the theme of forgiveness. Give at least one example of who needs to be granted forgiveness and the reason.

9. What is the relationship between Safran in 1941, Brod in 1804, and the Dial.

10. Does the old woman in "Falling in Love" know Jonathan's grandfather? What does she tell Jonathan?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,448 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample