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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 which city did Viktor live?

2. Where in Vienna was Viktor"s mansion located?

3. What was the name of the writer who famously supported Dreyfus?

4. Where does the author say was the best place to buy Japanese art?

5. In which city does Edmund live?

Short Essay Questions

1. What was Sichel's view of Japan?

2. Describe the Ringstrasse when it was first built in Vienna.

3. What can de Waal envision as he scans Charles' room?

4. How does Edmund describe his family's palais?

5. What does Edmund learn about Charles at the end of Chapter 3?

6. Why was Odessa an important city for the Jews?

7. What was expected of Viktor and his friends?

8. What does Edmund think was strange about Charles' relationship with the Impressionist painters?

9. How did Charles spend his time in Paris?

10. What was the family's goal in terms of their grain business?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Examine the author's writing style. How would you describe the author's prose style? What kind of vocabulary does he use? What meaning does the author's style give to the story?

Essay Topic 2

How influential was Jewish culture in Europe at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century? How much did it change European life?

Essay Topic 3

Which family member in the book does de Waal identify with the most? Why does he identify with that particular family member? How do think they would have gotten along if they had met in real life?

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