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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. When Isabel and the others are getting ready to start their journey in the boat, two police officers run toward them. Who do they turn out to be?

2. Josef's family is traveling on a train in order to get on a ship headed for what country?

3. On what condition is Josef's father released?

4. Who is the subject of the portrait that the rabbi asks Captain Schroeder to remove during the bar mitzvah on the ship?

5. After Mahmoud's family leaves their car behind, how many hours does Google Maps say their walk to Turkey will be?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Mahmoud feel about invisibility?

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

3. What is the clave?

4. What does Mahmoud buy for his little brother Waleed at a shop in the Turkish refugee camp and what does he hope to achieve with his purchase?

5. List some of Isabel's and the other boat passengers' expectations of what life will be like in America.

6. What qualities of Senor Castillo's lead to his role as the leader on the 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. How is Isabel's kitten used by the author to send a message about hunger and fear?

9. How does Josef view the difference between life on the ship above decks and life on the ship below decks?

10. How is the the ship Josef's family boards shown by the author to be paradoxical?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Look carefully at the passages of the novel that describe the close relationship between Mahmoud and Waleed. What is the author's purpose for discussing at length the nature of these two siblings' connection?

Essay Topic 2

Write a critical essay about the novel while using the critical power theory lens of Marxist theory. Use textual evidence to back up your strong, specific claim regarding the novel's treatment of issues such as class, socioeconomic status, and humanitarian aid.

Essay Topic 3

Trace the characterization arc of one of the three major characters in the novel. Discuss whether your chosen character is a round or flat character and whether your chosen character is a static or dynamic character.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,128 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample