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Name: _________________________ | Period: ___________________ |
This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.
Short Answer Questions
1. Where did Bessie and Berel Bernstein first meet?
2. Why is Mashah poor despite being married to Moe?
3. What is the name of the newspaper Reb writes his own ad in?
4. What insult does Reb call Sara when she tells him that she is American?
5. What is Mr. Moe Mirsky's claimed occupation?
Short Essay Questions
1. Why does Sara vow to marry an American-born man?
2. For what reason does the man in the paper sell Reb his store for only four hundred dollars?
3. Why does Zalmon wish to remarry so soon after his wife's death?
4. What happens when Morris shows up to try to talk to Reb about his feelings for Fania?
5. How does Sara see Moe treating Mashah when she visits them after running away from home?
6. Why does Father say that the prayers of his daughters go unheard by God?
7. Why do men follow Mashah around with "melting looks?"
8. What excuse does Bessie use in her defense when her mother comes into the house and sees the changes she makes?
9. Why is Reb so angry with Sara at the end of Chapter 8?
10. Why does Berel Bernstein decide to not marry Bessie?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
The Torah is mentioned by Reb many times in Bread Givers. He uses it not only as a gateway for information, but as a source from which to preach. Write an essay explaining why the Torah is important to the story. What does it symbolize? In which situations does Reb use the Torah to try and educate his children? How is the Torah used to support the idea of religious fanaticism? Use examples from the book 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
Bread Givers concludes with Sara deciding whether or not to take Reb into her home. She is conflicted because of his behavior and the past conflicts they have shared. Write an essay exploring the reasons Sara has for being hesitant to take her father in. Why is she always the sibling who takes responsibility for Reb? Why can she never escape him? How was Reb's personality and outlook on life shaped by the men who came before him? Explain your rationale by providing examples from the novel.
This section contains 911 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) |
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