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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 Sara keep her new apartment after she becomes a teacher?

2. What does Sara think of her college campus?

3. What do Sara and Mrs. Feinstein argue over in Chapter 20?

4. What clothing item does Sara buy to dress herself up with so that she can be like other girls her age?

5. What color is the article of clothing Sara buys on Fifth Avenue after her move?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Sara burn a shirt while ironing in Chapter 11?

2. How is Sara treated differently than the man behind her when she is getting beef stew at the cafeteria?

3. Why does Sara see her graduation day from college as being bittersweet?

4. Why does Reb treat Sara so harshly after he finds out about her refusal to marry Max Goldstein?

5. Why does Sara not fit in with the rest of the girls on her first day of college gym class?

6. Describe Sara's trip to the department store on Fifth Avenue.

7. Why is Shenah so weak when Sara sees her in Chapter 18?

8. Describe who Mr. Edman is and what he does for a living.

9. Why does Sara choose to go to the freshman class dance at college?

10. Why does Sara choose to move closer to Mr. Edman during her college years?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

Essay Topic 2

Max Goldstein is the first man that Sara ever loves. Whether the love is honest and true is something the book debates. Write an essay detailing the events of Sara's first love. How is meeting Max Goldstein a significant event for Sara? How does he change her? Is their relationship a healthy one? Is the love Sara experiences briefly with Max true or is it merely an infatuation? Use examples from the book to support your argument.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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