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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 does Moe treat Mashah while Sara is visiting them?

2. What sort of woman does Zalmon want to marry?

3. How old is Sara in Chapter 8?

4. How many nights a week does Sara go to night school?

5. For what occupation does Sara decide to go to school to study?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Reb react when he finds out how Morris Lipkin makes his living?

2. Why does Sara insist that she wants to work?

3. How does Sara see Moe treating Mashah when she visits them after running away from home?

4. How does Bessie react to the news that Berel Bernstein will not marry her?

5. How does Bessie's personality change after she marries Zalmon the fish peddler?

6. Why does Moe Mirsky continuously exchange Mashah's diamonds for different ones?

7. What are in the three packages Bessie brings home after work to dress up the house with?

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

9. How does Mashah's behavior change when she falls in love with her young man?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

A sort of bridging occurs between the "Old World" and the "New World" outlooks of characters in Bread Givers. Reb is "Old World" and therefore very traditional. Sara and Hugo Seelig are much more modern and "New World". Write an essay detailing the differences between the more traditional and more modern characters in Bread Givers. Why are these characters this way? What makes them more traditional or more modern? In which instances do these characters clash because of their differences in personality? Explain your rationale by providing examples from the novel.

Essay Topic 2

Food is often used to connect events throughout the story. Whether it be Shenah's cooking or the food in the cafeteria on Grand Street, the end result is the same. Write an essay detailing where and when food is used to connect events in Bread Givers. What does food symbolize? Shenah is known for making which dishes? The food at the Grand Street Cafeteria represents what to Sara and other working girls? Why is Mrs. Feinstein's cooking brought up as a subject at the end of the story? Use examples from the book to support your writing.

Essay Topic 3

Happiness the something rarely experienced by the characters in Bread Givers. Often times, the world is harsh and there is little cause for celebration. Write an essay exploring the reasons behind the lack of happiness and satisfaction in the character's lives. What are the most major reasons for a lack of happiness in Sara's life? What about Reb and Shenah's life? What about the marriages Bessie, Fania, and Mashah have make them unhappy? Why? Explain your rationale by providing examples from the novel.

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