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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 organization does Reb Saunders originate and develop in Chapter 14?

2. In Chapter 16, Reuven's father says, "A father can bring up a child any way he wishes...What a price to pay for a” what?

3. When did the Battle of the Bulge begin?

4. Where is Reuven’s father when he collapses and is taken to the hospital in Chapter 14?

5. Danny Saunders contemplates going where to earn a doctorate in Chapter 16?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is the relationship between Danny and Reuven illustrated in Chapter 15?

2. What viewpoints does Chapter 12 present regarding the creation of Israel?

3. How is Reuven’s time spent with his father in Chapter 10? Why does Mr. Malter travel to Manhattan?

4. What causes the animosity between Danny and Reuven in Chapter 13?

5. How does Reb Saunders treat Reuven in Chapter 16? How does Reuven feel about this?

6. What gesture does Danny make to intimate his sympathy for Reuven in Chapter 14?

7. How does the death of a Hirsch College graduate affect Reuven and his fellow classmates in Chapter 15?

8. What does Reb Saunders conclude about compassion in Chapter 18?

9. How does David Malter defend the actions of Reb Saunders in Chapter 13?

10. What does Reuven’s father realize about Reb Saunders’ silence with Danny in Chapter 17?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss F.D.R., Albert Einstein and Tchaikovsky. Why does the author choose to mention each of these individuals as heroes to the protagonist? What is each individual’s historical significance?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the characters of Mr. Savo, Billy Merritt and Mr. Galanter. What are Reuven’s impressions of each of these individuals? How do they each influence Reuven as a character? What do they each represent symbolically in the narrative?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the themes of forgiveness and friendship in the novel. How are these themes illustrated in Reuven’s acceptance of Danny’s apology in Chapter 3? Where else is forgiveness a key theme in the novel? What does Danny’s friendship mean to Reuven?

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