View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What insult does Reb call Sara when she tells him that she is American?

2. What is inside most of the boxes in the store Reb buys?

3. Which clothing item does Mother want to buy for Sara with her wages?

4. Why does Berel Bernstein not want Bessie's dowry?

5. How much money did Zalmon get from the lodges for his wife's death?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Why is Reb so angry with Sara at the end of Chapter 8?

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

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

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

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

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

8. For what reason does the man in the paper sell Reb his store for only four hundred dollars?

9. What does Sara's first apartment look like?

10. How do customers react when they are turned away by the Smolinksy family due to lack of stock in the store?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Smolinsky family immigrated to the United States from Russia. They arrived with very little because they came with the expectation that anything they would need would be easily obtainable. Write an essay explaining how the fictitious and fantastical America contrasts with reality. Which character or characters thought that in America, things would cost nothing? How is living in America much more difficult than anticipated for the Smolinsky family? What challenges has the family faced since immigrating? Be sure the provide examples to support your writing.

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

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.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 900 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample