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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 much money does Zalmon pay Reb for Bessie's hand in marriage?
2. Who does Sara see Mashah bargaining with when she arrives at her home to visit?
3. How does Shenah react when she realizes that her husband has been swindled by buying the store?
4. Why do Shenah and Reb argue at the end of Chapter 7?
5. What fraction of the children's wages does Reb give to charity?
Short Essay Questions
1. Why does Zalmon wish to remarry so soon after his wife's death?
2. Why does Father get arrested and sent to court?
3. How does Reb react when he finds out how Morris Lipkin makes his living?
4. How does Bessie's personality change after she marries Zalmon the fish peddler?
5. Who is Muhmenkeh?
6. Why is Reb so angry with Sara at the end of Chapter 8?
7. For what reason does the man in the paper sell Reb his store for only four hundred dollars?
8. What inspires Sara to become a teacher in Chapter 10?
9. Why does Sara insist that she wants to work?
10. What does Reb find in the store after he, Sara, and Shenah have gotten the chance to go through the stock?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
A good education is something that is valued very little by the characters in Bread Givers. Of the Smolinsky siblings, only Fania and Sara go to night school. Sara is the only one to ever graduate college. Write an essay explaining why education is not highly valued by characters in Bread Givers. How does gender play into the fact that education is not prioritized for women? Why is money of greater value than knowledge in the story? What types of skills are viewed as being more valuable than a good education? Why? Explain your rationale by providing examples from the novel.
Essay Topic 2
Reb is a character who dedicates most of his time to worship. He is a man of God who prioritizes reading, learning, and preaching over most anything else in life. Write an essay explaining how Reb's lifestyle often alienates those around him. Why do the members of his family feel that they are always living in his shadow? Which of the family members refuses to listen and obey Reb's preaching? Which of the family members often challenge the things he says? Explain your rationale by providing examples from the novel.
Essay Topic 3
The people of Hester Street are for the most part, lower class immigrated families. Throughout Bread Givers class is brought up by multiple characters. The members of the Smolinsky family are constantly trying to raise themselves above the poverty line. Write an essay detailing the efforts the members of the family make to rise above being lower class. How does Reb do his part for trying to become more than lower class? What types of people does he marry the family into? How does going to college help Sara rise above the line of poverty? Use examples from the book to support your writing.
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This section contains 919 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) |
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