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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 legislative bill is being protested in Washington, D. C. in a few days?

2. What does Levi wonder about Christina?

3. Where does Levi and the others go after the rally?

4. Where does Dov get a lunch for Boaz?

5. What is Boaz's response when Levi admonishes him?

Short Essay Questions

1. What enrages Levi so much that he goes up and pounds on Boaz's bedroom door and what happens?

2. What does Levi do in Boaz's room and what action does he decide to take?

3. Who do Pearl and Levi go to see in Poughkeepsie and how does Levi know they are at the right place?

4. What do the three friends learn when they pull into a Motel 9 in Ridgewood?

5. What does Levi do after they check in to a motel?

6. What does Levi calculate and decide to do?

7. How does Boaz act towards Levi at dinner after Levi confronts Boaz and what happens the next morning?

8. Why have Zim and Pearl shown up at the motel room in Philadelphia?

9. How is Levi surprised when they arrive at Celine's aunt's house in Edgewood?

10. What do Celine and Levi discuss about their brothers?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Choose one of the following to discuss:

1. Choose two significant symbols and trace and analyze their appearance in The Things a Brother Knows. Are these universal symbols? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other symbols that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Reinhardt chooses the symbols he does?

2. Choose two important metaphors and trace and analyze their appearance in the novel. Are these universal metaphors? Would they be understood in any culture? Are there other metaphors that would portray the same idea? What are they? Why do you think Reinhardt chooses the metaphors she does?

3. Discuss Reinhardt's use (or lack ) of literary device (such as foreshadowing, clifthangers, deux ex machina, etc.) and how they add or detract from the story. Does Reinhardt use too many or too little literary techniques? State which of the five major elements of fiction the literary device is related to (style, character, plot, setting, or theme).

Essay Topic 2

1. What is foreshadow? How many incidences of foreshadow are in The Things a Brother Knows? How does foreshadow contribute to a book's suspense?

2. Discuss an example of foreshadow in The Things a Brother Knows including why you believe it is foreshadow. Include examples from the book and your own life to illustrate your answer.

3. How do you think most people react to uncertainty in their lives? Use examples from The Things a Brother Knows and your own live to support your opinion.

Essay Topic 3

Levi senses that his parents are too close to the situation and too emotional to help Boaz. He has growing concerns about Boaz. He thinks he is planning something and, given his psychological state, Levi fears that it could be disastrous. He knows that it's very unhealthy for Boaz to be isolating himself. His parents and grandparents are in denial. Even though Levi has some feelings of envy and bitterness about his brother who has always gotten more attention than he has, at least in his mind, Levi is showing how much he cares for his brother.

1. Do you think Levi's parents' emotions could be affecting their judgment? How could that happen? Use examples from The Things a Brother Knows and your own life to support your answer.

2. Discuss the problems that could occur from Boaz isolating himself. Use examples from The Things a Brother Knows and your own life to support your answer.

3. Why do you think Levi might envy his brother? Use examples from The Things a Brother Knows and your own life to support your answer.

(see the answer keys)

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