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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. How many days does Morris spend in the hospital?

2. What is the skinny man's profession?

3. What more does Frank want from Helen?

4. Who is Charlie Sobeloff?

5. How does Frank spoil the funeral?

Short Essay Questions

1. What plans does Helen have if she and Frank get married?

2. How does Frank feel about his actions? What did he do to Helen?

3. How does Morris nearly die? Who saves him?

4. How does Helen feel about Frank not being Jewish?

5. How does Morris view his luck in this chapter?

6. Describe the nightmare Morris has. What do you think it means?

7. What did Charlie Sobeloff do to Morris?

8. How does Morris react when Frank tells him the truth about the hold-up?

9. How does Ward die?

10. How does business at the store change? What does Frank do to try and help it?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay on the topic of poverty, choosing your own focus for the subject. Recommended points to touch upon are:

1) The prevalence of poverty in the industrialized world.

2) Current policies and programs in place for fighting poverty, and their level of effectiveness.

3) Policy ideas for tackling poverty.

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 the life choices made by character in THE ASSISTANT. Be sure to address:

1) Themes and examples of regret and missed opportunities.

2) Examples of good and bad life choices made by characters in the novel.

3) The message you feel Bernard Malamud is communicating to readers regarding life choices.

(see the answer keys)

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