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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. Whose class is Reuven in at the opening of Chapter 6?

2. What does Kalman ask Reuven one day after class?

3. About what does Michael feel bad?

4. According to Reuven, with whom are the Hasid at war?

5. What is one major point of Gordon's "theology"?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Michael say about the universe when he is back home after the fair?

2. What does Danny tell Reuven about Michael?

3. Who does the narrator meet in Spring of 1950 that changes his view some about his religion?

4. Describe Reuven and Michael's phone conversation.

5. How does Reuven work out a way to meet Professor Gordon?

6. What does Michael tell Reuven about Michael's nosebleeds?

7. Who does Reuven call the day after sailing with Michael and what is the result?

8. What does Kalman discuss with Reuven after class concerning Professor Gordon?

9. How does the narrator's neighborhood change in the early 1950s?

10. Where do Michael and Reuven go the day after the fair, and what does Reuven teach Michael?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Chapter 4, the narrator says that Danny is raised by his father with a barrier of silence - they only spoke when they studied Talmud. This was to teach Danny suffering. Discuss the following:

1. Do you think Rebbe Saunders' method of raising Danny helped him to learn about suffering?

2. What else do you think it may have taught Danny?

3. Why do you think Rebbe Saunders thinks Danny needs to learn suffering?

4. Do you think Danny's mother had any say in the way Danny is raised in silence?

Essay Topic 2

Much of The Promise concerns theology. Many of the major characters are either Rabbis or studying to become a Rabbi. Michael, who is still a boy, makes perhasp some of the most interesting statements about god. Discuss the following:

1. What do you think Michael means when he says "God is smoke"?

2. Michael says he cannot get God out of his mind--discuss that statement in light of Michael's personality.

3. Are Michael's problems mostly spiritual; mostly psychological, or a combination of the two? Discuss thoroughly with examples.

Essay Topic 3

Kalman picks on Reuven by having him read Gemora aloud and critiques his interpretations. Reuven reads Kalman's book on ethics. Discuss the following:

1. What is ethics? How do you think the topic figures in during the telling of The Promise?

2. Why do you think Kalman is picking on Reuven in class?

3. Do you think it is ironic that Kalman wrote a book on ethics and yet he obviously picks on a student just because Kalman sees him with someone with whom Kalman disagrees?

4. Discuss the major characters (Kalman, Reuven, Danny, Professor Gordon, Michael Gordon and David Malter) and tell why you think each is ethical or not, giving one example for each to illustrate your point.

(see the answer keys)

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