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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Why does he believe his grandmother is waiting outside?
(a) The doctor tells him his grandmother is outside.
(b) He is trapped between the past and the present.
(c) He thinks he hears her voice.
(d) He can see her in the doorway.

2. Who is Shimon on his way to meet?
(a) A woman named Halina.
(b) Kathleen.
(c) The protagonist.
(d) His new boss.

3. Why does he feel this way when he eats the hamburger?
(a) It reminds him of his childhood.
(b) It is so delicious.
(c) He is so hungry.
(d) It reminds him of a much earlier time.

4. What memory does this trigger?
(a) His bar mitzvah.
(b) A voyage he took to South America after the war.
(c) A day spent with his grandmother.
(d) A school day many years before.

5. Why does Kathleen convince him to do this?
(a) He needs a break from reality.
(b) He admits to having eaten nothing all day.
(c) He needs to sleep.
(d) He looks tired.

6. What does the stranger recall?
(a) How he wanted to feel the cold water on his body.
(b) How memorable his mar mitzvah was.
(c) How the sea called to him to end it all by jumping in.
(d) How nervous he was to dance.

7. Despite what does the stranger stay with him?
(a) The darkness.
(b) The protagonist's complaint that he can not dance.
(c) The protagonist's ill humor and his obvious desire to be alone.
(d) The cold weather.

8. What does the nurse give the patient?
(a) Two injections.
(b) Dinner.
(c) Water.
(d) A hug.

9. What is the nurse's response?
(a) She will give him a shot against his dreams.
(b) That is very sweet.
(c) He is very sweet to think of her.
(d) His grandmother will help him heal.

10. What happens while the protagonist is standing at an intersection?
(a) He hails a cab.
(b) He is shot in a drive-by shooting.
(c) He jumps in front of a cab.
(d) A cab plows into him and drags him several feet.

11. What is odd about the protagonist's comment about already knowing Kathleen?
(a) They have not seen each other in over twenty years.
(b) He and Kathleen have never met.
(c) Kathleen does not seem to recognize him.
(d) He has only met her once before.

12. What is the protagonist standing alone doing?
(a) Staring at the sea.
(b) Reading a book.
(c) Looking out into the backyard.
(d) Watching the others dance.

13. What does the grandmother say when the young boy asks when God dies?
(a) God will send his Son to die for us.
(b) God dies in all of us.
(c) God has already died.
(d) God does not die.

14. What is this person waiting to do?
(a) See the protagonist.
(b) Give the protagonist more medication.
(c) Leave the protagonist.
(d) Talk to the doctor.

15. What does the stranger standing next to him in the dark do?
(a) Push him in the water.
(b) Starts a conversation.
(c) Push him on the swing.
(d) Ask him to dance.

Short Answer Questions

1. Eventually, what does the protagonist come to realize?

2. In the first section of the novel, where is the protagonist with his girlfriend, Kathleen?

3. What does his grandma tell him the presence of God will do?

4. When does the protagonist realize it is not his grandmother waiting for him?

5. With what does he grapple?

(see the answer keys)

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