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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 causes the house to always be dusty?

2. How did Karp make his fortune?

3. Who does Helen tell Ida that she is meeting at the library?

4. What book is Helen reading on the subway?

5. What is Morris Bober's job?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Helen feel about her failed relationship with Nat Pearl?

2. How is business at the store around Christmas? What explanation does Ida give for this?

3. How does Ida feel about Frank? Is her opinion of him changing?

4. What does Nick, the tenant, do to offend Morris?

5. What traumatic event caused a change in Morris' habits?

6. How is business at the store?

7. What do you think the relevance of St. Francis is to the story?

8. What happens to Morris at the end of the chapter? How does this event reflect his life?

9. Describe Frank's early family life.

10. What is the difference between Nat Pearl and Louis Karp?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay that critically reviews THE ASSISTANT by Bernard Malamud, in a formal book review style. Be sure to address:

1) Major themes of the novel and how well they are communicated to readers.

2) Your opinion on the writing style used by the author.

3) The universal importance of the book's subject matter.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay on the character strengths and weaknesses of Morris Bober. Be sure to address:

1) How Morris character traits influence his past and present life.

2) How Morris views and responds to the world and opportunities around him.

3) Whether or not you feel Morris is a tragically flawed character, and why (with evidence from the text).

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay on Jewish culture, tradition, and custom. Be sure to address:

1) What you feel it means to be Jewish.

2) Unique aspects of Jewish culture.

3) The contributions of the Jewish people to America.

(see the answer keys)

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