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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How did Jakob find out about why Karl was sent to the United States?
(a) Johanna Brummer wrote to him.
(b) One of Karl's neighbors wrote to him.
(c) Karl's mother wrote to him.
(d) Karl's father wrote to him.

2. What question does the man with the bamboo stick ask Karl?
(a) Why he is in America.
(b) Whether he has lost a trunk.
(c) What his name is.
(d) Whether he is German.

3. In the story's opening, what does Karl realize he has left below deck?
(a) His hat.
(b) His walking stick.
(c) His trunk.
(d) His umbrella.

4. Besides the letter and his trunk, what else does Pollunder give Karl?
(a) A business card.
(b) A cap.
(c) A pen.
(d) Money.

5. When Karl is wandering through the vast Pollunder house, what is he reminded of?
(a) The cozy warmth of his parents' home in Germany.
(b) The many floors of offices in his uncle's building.
(c) Families on the east side of the city who live crowded together in one room.
(d) The sprawling interior of the ship he traveled to America on.

6. What is the name of Karl's riding companion?
(a) Otto.
(b) Mak.
(c) Josef.
(d) Kurt.

7. What does Klara think Karl's last name is?
(a) Brummer.
(b) Rossmann.
(c) Jakob.
(d) Bendelmayer.

8. Who is the author of Amerika?
(a) Günter Grass.
(b) Thomas Mann.
(c) Franz Kafka.
(d) Hermann Hesse.

9. When Schubal enters the office, what is he wearing?
(a) A kitchen maid's apron.
(b) Grey leather trousers.
(c) An imperial frock coat.
(d) A colorfully embroidered vest.

10. What is the large room that Karl sees over the balustrade?
(a) An art gallery.
(b) The foyer.
(c) A ballroom.
(d) A chapel.

11. What apparently affectionate gesture does Pollunder make toward Karl as they drive?
(a) Pollunder strokes Karl's arm as they talk.
(b) Pollunder puts his arm around Karl.
(c) Pollunder ruffles Karl's hair with his hand.
(d) Pollunder repeatedly pats Karl's knee.

12. What happens as Karl steps out onto the stairs leading into the smaller boat that will take him to shore?
(a) He sees a drowned rat.
(b) He shouts with joy.
(c) He bursts into tears.
(d) He stumbles and almost falls.

13. What argument does Pollunder give to persuade Jakob to let Karl come for a visit?
(a) Karl will have an opportunity to practice his English.
(b) Karl will have a chance to learn more about the business.
(c) His daughter is looking forward to the visit.
(d) His cook has already prepared dinner for a guest.

14. What is the first thing Green discusses with the group during dinner at the Pollunder house?
(a) How inconvenient it is to have had to come all the way out to the country.
(b) His opinion that Jakob wastes a great deal of money on Karl.
(c) How surprising it is that Jakob allowed Karl to visit.
(d) His dislike of Karl's table manners and general knowledge of American etiquette.

15. According to the stoker, when is it most likely that a person would become a stoker?
(a) When the person has been sent away from home all by themselves.
(b) When the person has not really made up their mind about taking the job yet.
(c) When the person accidentally meets someone who is already a stoker.
(d) When the person is down on their luck and has run out of options.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Jakob ask Karl if he has cancelled in preparation for his visit to Pollunder's?

2. What has the servant woman named the child that she alleges Karl fathered?

3. When Karl imagines that his visit to the Pollunders might become "the turning point in his relationship with his uncle," what techniques are being used (57)?

4. What instrument does Karl play?

5. What title does Karl's uncle Jakob hold?

(see the answer keys)

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