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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. Who does Fania go to night school with?

2. How does Moe treat Mashah while Sara is visiting them?

3. Why does Fania say the shops are closed and there is no work?

4. Whose dress does Bessie put on for her visitor?

5. How much money does Berel Bernstein earn a week?

Short Essay Questions

1. What inspires Sara to become a teacher in Chapter 10?

2. What excuse does Bessie use in her defense when her mother comes into the house and sees the changes she makes?

3. Why is Mother fretting over money at the beginning of the story?

4. Why does Father say that the prayers of his daughters go unheard by God?

5. What happens when Morris shows up to try to talk to Reb about his feelings for Fania?

6. What steps do Shenah and Sara take to restock the store that Reb bought?

7. Why does Sara think herself in love with Morris Lipkin after he and Fania are no longer together?

8. Why does Zalmon wish to remarry so soon after his wife's death?

9. What does Reb find in the store after he, Sara, and Shenah have gotten the chance to go through the stock?

10. Why does Sara vow to marry an American-born man?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Sara struggles for acceptance by those around her all throughout the story. Her family does not understand her ambitions and neither do some of her peers at work and school. Write an essay explaining the efforts Sara makes to gain acceptance from those around her. What are some of the things she tries to do to blend in with those around her? What events does she attend in an attempt to feel akin to those around her? Be sure the provide examples to support your writing.

Essay Topic 2

Love and marriage are subjects often brought up in Bread Givers. All three of Sara's older sisters are married off to men they hardly know. Sara's parents barely knew each other before they were married. Write an essay exploring the idea of arranged marriage in the context of the story. Why do Bessie, Fania, and Mashah feel powerless over choosing who they marry? Why do match makers and prearranged marriages exist in the context of the story? Which of the characters refuses to get married to a man she doesn't love? Use examples from the book to support your opinions.

Essay Topic 3

Sara experiences feelings of anger very often throughout the story. Often, her anger works against her. It inhibits her to think and act maturely in certain situations. Write an essay exploring the feelings of anger Sara experiences throughout Bread Givers and how she deals with it. What are some of the things that make Sara angry? What subject in college helps her understand and manipulate her anger? How does she learn to deal with it? Use examples from the book to support your writing.

(see the answer keys)

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